Cataracts At 28 Yrs Old?!

[brizzo]

I went to the eye doctor yesterday for having something called a pinguecula. It's just a benign mark in the eye due to not wearing sunglasses and being out in the sun too much. No big deal... Here's where it get's weird. The opthamologist is looking at my eyes through the scope and kind of stops for a second and is like... I have good news and bad news. (not what you want to hear from an eye doctor!) He says, "you have a small cataract forming in your left eye." Mind you, I have PERFECT vision with the occasional "floater" or two. Then he says that the good news is that they appear to be the "slow growing" kind and I probably won't need surgery for 20 yrs or so.... That would make me almost 50yrs old. But I still don't know any friends my age that have "small cataracts" growing. Of course, most of my friends don't ever go to the eye Dr.

So , I go home and start researching "causes of cataracts" other than "old age"..... unless 28 is the new 50? I was suprised at how little is out there and known about cataracts. And there is almost NO mention anywhere about cataracts in young adults. The only thing that struck a cord with me was the fact that cataracts can be caused by certain "autoimmune" dissorders and diseases. It mentioned Lupus and a couple others , but no Celiac. Could it be a celiac thing? I didn't even think to ask the eye doctor, we all know how most doctors are to "gluten" issues. Wondering if being gluten-free will slow down or stop the cataract formation? Anyone ever run across this... Would appreciate any info that you all have.... Love, Brizz!

[jerseyangel]

Hi Brizzo,

Now mind you, I don't know anything about cataracts, but it does make sense that if autoimmune conditions can cause them then Celiac could be a factor. It would follow that if you stay strictly gluten-free, possibly that would have some effect on how fast they grow?

Makes sense to me--now hopefully someone with more knowledge will weigh in

[brizzo]

thanks j.a. I know that we are not all Dr.'s on here.... but it is nice to get the occasional validation of my own "crazy" thoughts on here lol thanks again brizzo

[jerseyangel]

thanks j.a. I know that we are not all Dr.'s on here.... but it is nice to get the occasional validation of my own "crazy" thoughts on here lol thanks again brizzo

Yep--we were definately thinking along the same lines!

[darlindeb25]

I work for one of the best optomitrist there is and he knows I have celiacs disease. At 50, I developed dry eye and when I asked him why people develop dry eye, he told me quite often it is hormonal, sometimes due to autoimmune diseases. When I asked if celiacs could be the cause he looks at me and smiles, then says, "Nah, it's your age, hormonal and all, with menopause, ya know!" Well, as good a doc as he is, I think that answer sucks. To begin with, as many celiac women do, I started menopause at around 40 and by 46, was no longer having hot flashes, no cycles, nothing. I'm sure this is due to the celiacs, but he doesn't know anything abut celiacs, so therefore, it just can't be celiacs! So, I already know he would deny celiacs can cause cataracts, I do know that sometimes babies are born with cataracts, so it may not be as abnormal as you think--probably just that you have a very through doctor and be thankful for that. Your eyes are the windows to your world!!

[brizzo]

thanks deb! =)

[CDFAMILY]

Hi brizzo, Deb and all,

On another forum, we talked about cataracts. There is no doubt in my mind that celiac affects the eye. I was told I had cataracts forming. A year later gluten-free my optomotrist could barely see them but what she found even stranger was that my vision had changed after being the same for 40 years.

My husbands night vision has dramatically improved.

My oldest daughter had a bleed on her retina...which I know is from Celiac because my younger daughter 16 at the time who was just dx Celiac in March has spots on her retina.

I am sure there is a link but this is so foreign to eye doctors that it is not even a thought.

How could malnutrition cause eye problems??????

[darlindeb25]

The doc I work for, Dr. Z says that he can tell you what diseases you have by looking in your eyes. He says not only are the eyes the windows to our world, they are also the windows to our body. Yet, I don't think enough is known about celiacs for doctors to know what they see, as of yet. Celiacs masks so many other diseases and that is what they see, not the actual celiacs. I'm sure vitamin deficiencies show up in the eye, yet the doc will only tell you that you need vitamins, they wont know the cause. I know he can tell a person has high cholesterol by their eyes, high sugar levels--many things, they just don't know it all. To be honest, I feel he is a wonderful doctor and he will always take care of my eyes, yet I also so know, he doesn't know everything and I even realize, I know more about vitamin deficiencies than he does--yet, I was forced into knowing what I know.

[ladybugpumpkin]

Hey,

I'm in my 2nd year of Optometry School. This is all very interesting to me. I just went Gluten-free "September-ish" and when I had my eyes examed in October, they said my prescription was better and my axis had shifted 30 degrees. I wonder........

[Anteau25]

I have a thorough eye exam every year because I'm a diabetic. A few years ago I went to a new eye dr, and she told me that I had cataracts in my left eye. I was shocked! I was skeptical, so I went for a second opinion. The next dr laughed when I told him what the other dr said. The following year I had to see a new dr because my insurance changed. I asked him about it too. He agreed that there was absolutely no sign of cataracts. I'm not saying that you don't have them. I personally just don't trust many doctors. Maybe get a second opinion?

[eKatherine]

You are planning on wearing a hat and sunglasses when out in the sun from now on, aren't you?

[2kids4me]

Good posts here

The eye is definitely the window to our body - many systemic illnesses have subtle [and not so subtle]changes in the eye that reflect a disease process.

Autoimmune disease like celiac and any of the 60 other immune conditions can impact the eye. Malabsorbtion and resulting deficiencies of things like riboflavin or selenium can present with red eyes and tearing ...at least in the dog they do - I am an Animal Health tech so that is where I get my "real life" info from...

Sunlight and smoking are risk factors for early cataracts - wear those sunglasses take vitamin C

The development of cataracts in the adult is related to aging, sunlight exposure, smoking, poor nutrition, eye trauma, systemic diseases, and certain medications such as steroids. A single study has suggested that use of oral vitamin C may help delay the progression of cataracts.

Open Original Shared Link

I have included an article on a dog with a nutritional deficiency that created eye problems...which then led to discovering a nutritional deficiency in the family Normally we say - dont feed table scraps - but in this instance they did more diagnostics on the dog .....apparently.......and because he ate scraps - they found an answer for the human half of the "pack" . You'd have thought in this day and age that the humans in the family would have been diagnosed first.

Vets rock ok a little biased here

THE NATURAL OCCURRENCE OF RIBOFLAVIN DEFICIENCY IN THE EYES OF DOGS

TOM D. SPIES

In four dogs, the diarrhea, increased salivation and mucous membrane lesions characteristic of blacktongue were relieved within 24 hours following the administration of 150 mgs nicotinic amide, whereas the lacrimation, photophobia and extreme injection of the eye vessels did not diminish. These severe eye lesions regressed greatly 24 hours after the injection of 50 mgs of riboflavin, and in 72 hours had disappeared.

The simultaneous occurrence of nicotinic acid and riboflavin deficiency in four dogs is evidence that such deficiencies occur as mixed diseases rather than as single entities.

These findings are further evidence of the universality of nutritional deficiencies, since they suggest that deficiency diseases among the pets of families with deficiency diseases are not uncommon. In at least one instance the finding of nutritional deficiencies in a dog eating scraps from the family table led to a better understanding of the ill health of the family, none of whom had diagnostic lesions of deficiency disease at the time, although they all complained of weakness, nervousness, irritability and loss of appetite—the vague and ill-defined symptoms characteristic of deficiency diseases in the early stages.

Open Original Shared Link

[Guest AutumnE]

I dont have cataracts but I do possibly have glaucoma and one of the contributors besides my eyes needing a high prescription in my glasses is celiac disease. It is through new studies they believe it is auto immune related. I have went yearly to an optometrist but recently just decided to go to an opthalmologist ( more thorough testing devices). I went in for just dry eyes and a couple of big floaters in my left eye. I found out I have ocular rosacea. Huge floaters on my left eye which also they believe has the beginning of glaucoma. I find out tomorrow if there is any blindness so far.

I know how bad it sucks to just picture you have dry eyes and then find out so much more than you wanted to know. Im still getting use to the thought of it after a month.So far everything lists to lead a healthier life for slower progression of it so Im assuming my nutritional deficiencies and intake of caffiene probably affected it.

Now that I look back I realize I did have some symptoms but didnt put two and two together. My floaters did get bigger, my eyes seemed more irritated and dry, my halos around lights did become worse and they even started happening inside the house. At my stage now they are doing tests and hopefully I have no vision damage yet, I find out tomorrow. Im only 34 years old, everything I read is it is commonly seen above the age of 60. Its scarey when its our vision isnt it?

Edited to add here is an article on autoimmune disorders and cataracts, not much out there though Open Original Shared Link

[brizzo]

Very interesting stuff here. I believe one reason that the medical community fails to research this idea any further, is that cataracts surgery is about 98% successful. It is also the most common surgery done today. It is almost always "treatable".It would be interesting to see if the countries of the world with a higher prevelance of cataracts also have a higher rate of celiac disease?..... hmmmm... Brizzo

[Hopengilly]

I am new here. I am 45 years old. I am waiting for my blood tests to come back. I went to my doctor last week and told her that in my short gluten-elimination test, that I noticed some dramatic results. I am so encouraged by this. I have been on the sidelines for years now. I alread feel so much better.

I was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes when I was about 40. I was shocked when they told me. I take very good care of myself as far as diet (at least I thought I did) and exercise. I am nearing the time I will need surgery for my left eye. It's getting pretty cloudy.

I too, think there is a link between cataracts and celiac disease.