Vegetarian Diet Linked to Lower Cataract Risk

Hello all! I realize that it has been awhile since my last blog post. Does anyone else have a hard time keeping up with social media like I do? In any event, I wanted to share with you the results of a British study that I read about today published by Reuters Health. The study showed that eating less meat and more vegetables is tied to a lower risk of cataracts. Read on for details…

Results from this study showed a 30-40% lower cataract risk among vegetarians and vegans compared to the biggest meat eaters. These patients were watched over a 15 year period and the highest risk was seen among the heaviest meat-eaters—those who consumed 100grams (3.5 ounces) of meat daily. It is currently recommended to take in anywhere between 10-12 ounces of red meat weekly. So do the math: a person consuming roughly 3.5 ounces per day is taking in about 24 ounces per week--essentially doubling the weekly recommendation for a healthy diet (we are talking about eating a lot of red meat here)! Moderate meat eaters were only slightly less likely to develop cataracts. Fish eaters’ risk was 15% lower than that of the heavy meat eaters, vegetarians’ 30% and vegans’ 40% lower.

DON'T fret however if you enjoy a nice steak or a tasty burger like I do, the study does not prove that eating meat promotes cataracts. It does suggest that eating lots of vegetables might be protective. A vegetarian diet may also simply be a sign of other healthy behaviors that contribute to the lowered risk.

To review, a cataract is a cloudy or opaque area in the normally clear lens of the eye. Depending upon its size and location, it can interfere with normal vision. Most cataracts develop in people over age 55, but they occasionally occur in infants and young children. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse that the other. I routinely tell my patients that cataracts are like wrinkles, everyone is going to develop them, it is just a matter of how fast they are going to progress and what kind they are going to be!

Remember, there are other factors that can elevate your risk of developing cataracts. Some of those include: smoking, diabetes and exposure to bright sunlight. So be pro-active: quit smoking if you do, (don’t start smoking if you are not a smoker), maintain a healthy weight through lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, and wear your sunglasses!

Questions? Just ask! Thanks for reading.

Keeping an Eye on You,

Betsy W. Fraser, O.D.