Question:
got a question I can't get answered on the pharmacy website..thought
I'd try here ..
Does anyone know if any of the following could cause, or contribute to a
cataract getting bigger faster ??
Answer:
There are different types of cataracts. The usual type of age-related
cataract is called a "nuclear" cataract because it occurs in the nucleus
or center of the lens. This generally develops slowly, and it is a process
of protein coagulation analogous to the way an egg coagulates (and becomes
opaque) when you fry it. It is thought to be partly due to oxidation, and
may be preventable by taking anti-oxidants like vitamin E.
There is another type of cataract, called "posterior
subcapsular" cataract which often occurs in less old people and develops
very rapidly. It can be caused by long-term use of cortico-steroid drugs
such as cortisone, or radiation, or other environmental causes. Certain
kinds of eye trauma and conditions like diabetes can also cause cataracts.
In addition to the other causes of cataracts, there is a
type of cataract that is caused by an electrolyte imbalance.
In contrast to the other types of cataracts, this can be
reversed if the imbalance is corrected.
