June is Cataract Awareness Month. Did you know that cataracts
are the leading cause of vision loss among adults 55 and older?
In fact, more than half the people over age 65 have some degree
of cataract development. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in
the eye, the part of the eye that focuses light and produces
clear images. Inside of the eye, the lens is contained in a
sealed bag or capsule. As old cells die they become trapped
within the capsule. Over time, more cells die and accumulate
causing the lens to cloud, making images look blurred or fuzzy.
(Eye America.org) Cataracts are caused by the breakdown of
proteins within the clear lens of the eye that cause it to
become cloudy and difficult to see through, effecting vision.
Some of this protein breakdown is associated with oxidative
stress. It is believed that the majority of oxidative stress is
generated in the eye via photochemical reactions caused by
exposure to sunlight although oxidative stress can be caused by
neuronal dysfunction in certain cond