Medications that affect vision
There are three main types of cataracts: nuclear (central), cortical (peripheral, often associated with diabetes), and posterior subcapsular (of the back of the lens). The latter is particularly vulnerable due to the way it is used.
The main suspected drug classes are listed below:
Corticosteroids: These are available in tablet form (prednisone, hydrocortisone), as a cream for topical use, or as an inhaler for asthma and COPD (budesonide, fluticasone). Long-term use of steroids is the leading cause of subcapsular cataracts.
Antidepressants and psychotropic drugs: Commonly used medications, such as sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and paroxetine (Paxil), are known as medications that can “probably” or “knownly” cause cataracts. Heart medication: Amiodarone and some statins for cholesterol.
Cancer treatments: Tamoxifen and methotrexate.
Urate medication: Allopurinol.
An additional surgical procedure, vitrectomy (often performed for retinal detachment), leads to the development of cataracts within a year after the operation in nearly 70% of cases.
Mechanism: Oxidative stress and glutathione depletion.
Why do medications damage the eye? The common denominator is oxidative stress. The lens of the eye requires powerful antioxidants to remain transparent. The aforementioned medications, along with viral toxins, deplete the glutathione supply, the body’s antioxidant channel, and reduce the virus’s superoxide production (superoxide prevention) in the eye.
When glutathione levels drop, oxidation-induced granules in the lens clump together, causing the characteristic cloudiness of cataracts.
Natural solutions: Prevention and reversal.
The good news is that science has found an antidote. Studies in humans and animals suggest that it is possible to stop and reverse lens clouding by regulating antioxidant levels. Here follows a protocol based on Dr. Ardis’s research.
1. Vitamin C: Internal sunscreen.
The aqueous humor (the fluid for the lens) typically contains 20 to 70 times more vitamin C than blood. It acts as a chemical protection against UV radiation and oxidation. However, small doses are not sufficient to increase the vitamin C level in the eye.
Studies have shown that a dose of at least 1000 mg per day is required to achieve growth in the eye, with the target area being reached within approximately 12 hours. This is the first line of defense.
2. Taurine: Regeneration of glutathione
