Abstract
Cataracts or clouding of the lens is the leading cause of blindness in the world. Age and diabetes are major risk factors, and with an increasing aging and diabetic population, the burden of cataracts will grow. Cataract surgery is an effective way to restore vision; however, alternatives to cataract surgery are required to reduce the looming cataract epidemic. Since it is well established that oxidative damage plays a major role in the etiology of cataracts, antioxidants have been promoted as therapies to delay and/or prevent cataracts. However, many antioxidant interventions including vitamin C have produced mixed results as anti-cataract therapies. Progress has been made towards our understanding of lens physiology and the mechanisms involved in the delivery and uptake of antioxidants to the lens which may guide future studies aimed at addressing some of the inconsistencies seen in previous animal and human studies. Of interest is the potential for vitamin C based supplements in delaying the onset of cataracts post vitrectomy which occurs in up to 80% of patients within two years. These targeted approaches are required to reduce the burden of cataract on hospitals and improve the quality of life of our aging and diabetic population.
Highlights
With an aging and diabetic population, the number of individuals with major eye diseases is increasing, and vision loss in the elderly is projected to be a major public health problem
We provide a selective summary of in order to demonstrate the type of studies that have been conducted on the lens, and to reflect on how animal to demonstrate the type of studies that havesetbeen conductedto ontest thethe lens, and we canstudies developina order more consistent approach that utilizes a standard of parameters efficacy to reflect on how we can develop a more consistent approach that utilizes a standard set of parameters of vitamin C in appropriate animal models that best mimic the cataract process observed in humans
There is no basis for supplementing with high doses since Vitamin C in excess of 250 mg/day is excreted in the urine
Summary
With an aging and diabetic population, the number of individuals with major eye diseases is increasing, and vision loss in the elderly is projected to be a major public health problem. Age is a major risk factor for cataracts [2,3], with the disease progressing gradually, appearing first in the fourth or fifth decade, but not affecting vision until typically the sixth decade. Diabetes is another risk factor, with diabetic patients 2–5 times more at risk for developing cataracts and at an earlier age [4]. Because of the proven association between lens cataract and oxidative damage, antioxidant supplementation has been promoted as a treatment strategy to slow the progression of cataract [6,7,8]. Antioxidant supplementation has proven to be largely ineffective as an anti-cataract therapy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
