What is a Cataract?

The lens of your eye is a transparent, biconvex structure that lies behind your iris and pupil. Along with the cornea, its role is to focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye. It works a bit like a camera lens and, by changing shape, the lens alters the focal distance of the eye so that the eye can focus on things clearly that are both close up and far away.

The lens itself is mostly made up of water and proteins. The proteins are arranged in a very specific way which keeps the lens clear and allows light to pass through it. However, as we age, some of these proteins may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is the beginnings of a senile cataract. At this point the cataract is referred to as an incipient cataract.

Because the lens is critical in the focusing process and the clarity with which we see things, any changes to it can have a dramatic effect on your ability to see clearly. In the early stages of development a cataract may be very small and may not interfere with your vision at all. However, gradually over time more and more of your lens will become affected - at this point your cataract will be referred to as an immature cataract. As the cataract grows and your lens becomes increasingly cloudy, your vision will become ever more blurred. It’s a bit like looking through frosted glass all the time. Eventually, the entire lens can become cloudy (a mature cataract) and all functional vision will be lost.

Although for many cataracts develop slowly, over months or even years, for some they can develop in just a matter of a few weeks. One or both eyes can be affected. It is important to see your optometrist to get a proper diagnosis and once diagnosed you can consider treatment options including cataract eye drops.

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What Causes Cataracts?

No one really knows why the protein structures in the eye can change causing cataracts to develop as we get older. Research is ongoing - and the more we learn about cataracts and the way they form, the more we will be able to develop not only treatments but also preventative strategies that can be implemented to try and stop senile cataract from forming in the first place. 

What we do know is that certain risk factors exist that increase your likelihood of developing cataracts with age. These risk factors include: 

Exposure to ultraviolet light - many studies now suggest that ultraviolet light damages the eye in such a way that it can speed up the formation of cataracts. Certainly, cataracts are more commonly found near the equator and airline pilots appear to be particularly prone to them. Wearing sunglasses and broad brimmed hats can help cut down your exposure to ultra violet light

• Smoking and high levels of alcohol consumption
• Being diabetic - if you suffer from diabetes your risk for developing senile cataracts increases by around 40%

• Poor nutrition when you are young
• Family history of cataracts - it appears that the condition can be hereditary

• The use of certain drugs including steroids, tranquilisers and diuretics
• A history of trauma to the eye may make the eye more susceptible to developing cataracts as you age

• Cataracts may also appear as a secondary condition to other eye diseases
• Having a diet high in salt

• Using HRT (hormone replacement therapy) - this issue is still in debate and further research is required before a final conclusion can be drawn
• Age - the older you are, the greater your risk of spontaneously developing cataracts

Cataracts do not usually occur until you are at least 60 years old. This inevitably means that with aging populations, the incidence of cataracts occurring is also going to continue to climb - and so too the number of cataract surgeries performed. This is because surgery is often the only treatment suggested. But, with advent of Carnosine Eye Drops, surgery can be avoided. Instead Can-C eye drops offer a gentle, effective and non-invasive way of treating cataracts.

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What are Can-C Eyedrops?

Can-C Eyedrops have been specially formulated to treat cataracts - halting and even reversing the progression of the condition. This means that for the first time those suffering from senile cataracts have a real alternative to expensive surgery. These incredible ophthalmic eyedrops use a formula that has been approved and patented by the company that originally developed this most remarkable breakthrough in the treatment of cataracts - Innovative Vision Products.

Unlike surgery which is necessarily an invasive procedure that inevitably carries some risk, Can-C Eyedrops are non-invasive, gentle and effective.

The formula contains N-acetylcarnosine - a form of carnosine, the naturally occurring di-peptide of the amino-acids beta-alanine and l-histadine. Research has shown that carnosine plays an important role in the prevention of glycation. Glycation is the result of sugar molecules bonding to proteins without the controlling action of enzymes. The lens of the eye is made up mostly from water and proteins. These proteins are arranged in a very specific way that allows the lens to be kept clear and for light to pass through it. As glycation affects these proteins, it plays a crucial role in the formation of cataracts. By preventing glycation, carnosine works to prevent one of the root causes of cataracts.

Carnosine is also a powerful anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants provide protection against free radical damage. This type of damage is also known to be heavily implicated in the formation of cataracts.

It´s important to note that not any form of carnosine eye drops can be used when treating cataracts. Research has demonstrated that it is the N-acetylcarnosine form of carnosine that is effective in this regard. This is because N-acetylcarnosine acts as a "carrier" of carnosine, allowing it to be delivered directly into the aqueous humor of the eye (the fluid surrounding the lens). What´s more, N-acetylcarnosine is also highly resistant to the enzyme carnosinase which works to break down carnosine.

Using its unique and patented formula, the safety profile of cataract eye drops is such that it allows N-acetylcarnosine to be administered directly into the eye and so enabling the prevention and reversal of the progression of cataracts without the need for surgery. 

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The Scientific Evidence behind the use of N-acetylcarnosine Eyedrops

It’s all well and good stating that a product works, but what is really important is that statements such as these are backed up with scientific research that has been carried out using the most rigorous study protocols. Cataracts Drops meet this strict criterium.

The leading research in this area was carried out by Dr Mark Babizhayev and his team from the Moscow Helmholtz Research Institute of Eye Diseases. The researchers specifically examined the use of the ophthalmic formulation of N-acetylcarnosine (as found in Can-C Eyedrops) in cataract patients in order to establish whether or not using N-acetylcarnosine in such a way could actually obviate the need for these patients to undergo cataract surgery. The results were truly remarkable.

Dr Babizhayev and his colleagues established a controlled clinical trial that involved 110 eyes. The eyes were split into three groups:

• 60 eyes received the N-acetylcarnosine eye drop treatment twice a day
• 30 eyes formed a control group & were administered with a placebo eye drop
• 20 eyes received no treatment whatsoever

All of the eyes were evaluated at the start of the study and then at 2 monthly intervals over a total period of 6 months. Incredibly, at the end of the 6 month trial period a staggering 96% of the treated eyes showed improvement. But even more exciting was the fact that those eyes that showed the greatest improvements were in those affected by the most common form of cataracts - age related cataracts (often referred to as senile cataract).

To understand just how incredible these results were, you have to put them into some sort of context. Up until this point, it had been thought that the only way to effectively treat cataracts was by surgery. No non-invasive treatments were available. The clinical trial results confirmed that at last there really was an effective, alternative, non-surgical option available for the treatments of cataracts.

The study also revealed a remarkable new phenomenon - the "melting snow" effect. This was the name given to the clearly visible breakdown of the damaged proteins that cause cataracts - even after only 1 month of treatment. The reversal process began at the periphery with the affected lenses which gradually became more and more transparent. As the growth of the cataracts was reversed, so vision improved.

Dr Babizhayev is now the guiding light behind Innovative Vision Products Inc which has patented and approved the N-acetylcarnosine formulation found in Can-C Eyedrops.

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How to use Can-C Eyedrops

Using Can-C Eyedrops to treat your cataracts could not be simpler. Simply apply two drops of Can-C Eyedrops twice a day into your affected eye(s). Although this might not seem like very much, there is no benefit to be gained from increasing this dose. If you are already using other eye medications, seek the advice of your ophthalmic physician before starting to use Can-C Eyedrops.

As with so many conditions, the sooner you start treating your cataracts the more effective your treatment will be. Therefore, it is recommended that you start using Can-C Eyedrops as soon as you have been diagnosed with cataracts.

It is also important to realise that just as senile cataracts do not suddenly appear overnight, Can-C Eyedrops cannot dissolve them that quickly either. Instead Can-C Eyedrops work gently but effectively over a period of time.

However, within one month of use, many people report measurable improvements in their condition. In order to gain maximum benefit, Can-C Eyedrops should be used as directed above for a period of at least 6 months. Even after your cataracts have been successfully treated, it is a good idea to carry on using Can-C Eyedrops in order to try and help prevent any reoccurrence of the problem - especially when you bear in mind senile cataracts are a condition intrinsically linked with aging. As a preventative measure, it is recommended that the dose be lowered to two drops once a day into each eye.

Fortunately, Can-C Eyedrops appear to be extremely well tolerated, with no real side effects. For most people, using Carnosine Drops should be an effective, easy to use, side effect free way of treating their cataracts. Rarely, a patient may experience some stinging. If this does happen, the situation should rectify itself with continued use. If not, then Can-C Eyedrops should no longer be used.

Another benefit of Cataract Drops that they can also be used by contact lens wearers. In fact, some people find that it makes wearing their contact lens more comfortable - particularly if they suffer from dryness and irritation that is sometimes associated with contact lens use. The active ingredient in Can-C Eyedrops, N-acetylcarnosine, may also reduce the build up of lactic acid in the eyes which means that contact lenses can safely be worn for longer.

Jacob - About the Author:

Jacob has the vast knowledge in health and doing research on eye drops from past 6 year. He is working with can c eye drops and write the articles on cataract eye drops, carnosine eye drops and senile cataract.

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How Do I Know That I Have Cataracts?

                         Image via Wikipedia

Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy. At first they may not affect your vision at all, but as they become larger your vision will become increasingly blurred - it will be like looking through frosted glass all the time - until eventually you may lose all your functional vision in your affected eye(s).

You may also notice other symptoms in addition to the blurring of your vision. Cataracts can make sunlight or lamplight appear too bright or glaring. Oncoming headlights when you are driving at night can be another problem as they may cause more glare than they did before. You might also find that colours do not seem as bright as they once did.

Some people find that they become increasingly nearsighted and they require frequent changes in their glasses prescription. Whilst changing your prescription might initially help, eventually, as the cataract grows, stronger glasses or contact lenses will no longer improve your vision.

There are a number of different types of cataracts - and the type of cataract will affect exactly which symptoms you experience and how quickly they will occur. The most common type of cataract is called a senile cataract. They develop almost exclusively in those over the age of 60, although the underlying damage that eventually leads to the cataract formation usually begins decades earlier. Senile cataracts often start as a discoloration of the lens. As the localized structural damage grows, so vision problems occur.

It's vitally important that you have cataracts properly diagnosed by a qualified optometrist. People sometimes confuse a condition called nuclear sclerosis with the development of cataracts because nuclear sclerosis (a hardening of the lens of the eye) causes the lens to become less translucent. This gives it a grey or pearly appearance. Fortunately nuclear sclerosis does not usually significantly interfere with a person's vision.

It's important to remember that cataracts are not cancerous, are not infectious (they can't spread from one eye to the other) and do not affect other structures in your eye.

Once diagnosed, do not panic. They can be treated and are not a cause of irreversible blindness. Your optometrist may recommend surgery - but there is an alternative. Cataract Drops can effectively and gently treat cataracts without the need for surgery.

Jacob has the vast knowledge in health and doing research on eye drops from past 6 year. He is working with can c eye drops and write the articles on cataract eye drops, carnosine drops and senile cataract.

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Cataracts and Ultraviolet Radiation

The greatest risk factor that we face when it comes to developing cataracts is one that we can’t avoid - getting older. Over time, as we age, the proteins that make up the lens in our eyes are slowly damaged. The older we get, the more the damage accumulates and the more at risk we become of developing senile cataracts. But there are other risk factors that we can do something about and one of these is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

UV radiation is part of our everyday lives because sunlight is made up from both UVA and UVB radiation. Both of these forms of ultraviolet radiation have destructive properties that can promote the formation and growth of cataracts.

UVB radiation primarily affects the outer skin layers. Many of us are aware of the damaging nature of this type of UV radiation because it is the primary cause of sunburn. But what you may not know is that long-term exposure to even low levels of UVB radiation can be particularly damaging to your eyes. It is this type of UV radiation that appears to be responsible for a condition called macular degeneration (an aging disorder of the retina that is the most common cause of blindness in the Western world). UVB radiation is also the form of UV radiation primarily responsible for the formation of cataracts. Long-term exposure to UVB radiation eventually results in alterations to the lens, including pigment changes, which are known to contribute to cataract development.

UVA radiation, on the other hand, is composed of longer wavelengths than UVB radiation. As a result UVA radiation penetrates much more deeply into the inner skin layers than UVB radiation and is responsible for tanning. UVA radiation also promotes the release of damaging oxidants (also known as free radicals) and the effects of oxidants are known to be implicated in the formation of cataracts.
The shape of our faces - the way in which our eyes are set back and surrounded by eyelids, brows, cheekbones and the nose - helps to protect our eyes from exposure to sunlight. But long term exposure which obviously increases with age can defeat our natural eye defences.

Sensible measures like wearing wide brimmed hats and protective sunglasses can help to eliminate some of the dangers of such exposure - although sun avoidance should never be taken to extremes as our bodies need the Vitamin D that we get from sun exposure in order to keep our bones healthy.

We can also help to boost our natural defences by using can c eye drops. If senile cataract has already developed then these amazingly effective cataract eye drops with their unique N-acetylcarnosine formula are able to gradually and gently dissolve away the cataracts. But they can also be used as a preventative measure - to help keep your eyes as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

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Cataracts and Glycation

                         Image via WikipCataracts form in the lens of the eye - a biconvex structure that is essentially made up of water and proteins. These proteins are arranged in a very specific way that enables the lens to be kept clear and light to pass through it. However, if the proteins become damaged a cataract may start to form. And it is a process known as glycation that is a major culprit when it comes to protein damage.

Glycation is the reaction that occurs when simple sugar molecules such as fructose and glucose become attached (bind) to proteins (or lipid fats) without the controlling action of an enzyme. This process, also called non-enzymatic glycosylation, results in the formation of rogue molecules known as advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). These AGEs interact with adjacent proteins (cross link) which results in impaired function, free radical formation and accelerated aging. AGEs are therefore linked to many age-related diseases and conditions including the development of senile cataracts.

Glycation is of particular concern to diabetics who already suffer from the effects of poor glucose control. Certainly, being diabetic increases your chances of developing cataracts due to increased glycation occurring.

It stands to reason then that if you can prevent and reverse glycation you are well on the way to helping to prevent and reverse cataracts. Fortunately, a chemical compound known as carnosine is capable of doing just that. Carnosine is a di-peptide made up from a combination of the amino-acids beta-alanine and l-histadine and has proven to be a very effective inhibitor of glycation. It works by competing with proteins for binding sites on sugar molecules. It is also thought to bind already produced AGEs so they get removed. In this way carnosine is capable of effectively preventing and reversing the development and growth of cataracts.

The trick has been to get carnosine to where it is needed most. And this where Can-C Eyedrops come in to play. The carnosine found in Can-C Eyedrops´ unique formula is specifically in the form of N-acetylcarnosine. N-acetylcarnosine acts as a "carrier" of carnosine which means that it can be delivered directly into the aqueous humor of the eye (the fluid surrounding the lens). N-acetylcarnosine is also highly resistant to the enzyme carnosinase - the natural enemy of carnosine because its action is to break down carnosine.

And the scientific evidence is clear. Clinical trials showed that after 6 months use of cataract eye drops 90% of patients had improved vision as the carnosine drops gently and effectively melted away their cataracts. 

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Cataracts and Free Radicals

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Although age is the main risk factor when it comes to developing cataracts, experts are still not sure of the exact mechanisms that link cataract formation so closely with aging. In reality, there are probably a number of factors at play but two of the main contenders appear to be glycation and free radicals - both of which can damage the eye and lead to the development of cataracts. Here we concentrate on free radicals.

Free radicals (also known as oxidants) are the natural bi-products of metabolism. Because a free radical is missing an electron, it is a highly unstable, reactive chemical. In order to stabilise itself it needs to “grab” an electron from another chemical, usually from the nearest stable molecule. However, once the "attacked" molecule loses its electron, it then becomes a free radical itself, and a chain reaction begins.

In a healthy eye, the body is able remove free radicals by delivering "free radical scavengers" (anti-oxidants) to the eyes in the form of nutrients such as vitamin C and glutathione. But if there are not enough anti-oxidants available to combat the free radicals that are being produced, the numbers of free radicals increase and the reactive processes that they cause can be extremely harmful to nearly any type of cell in the body.

Unfortunately, as we age our supply of anti-oxidants naturally decreases, and damage from free radicals begins to accumulate. The formation of senile cataract is one of many destructive changes that can occur as a result.

One way to deal with the problem of aging and free radical damage is to boost the supply of anti-oxidants. And this is where Can-C Eyedrops come into their own. Carnosine Drops, as contained within Can C Eye Drops in the form of N-acetylcarnosine, is known to be a powerful anti-oxidant and as such works as an extremely important weapon in the fight against the free radical damage that can lead to cataracts.

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