Chennai: India is known to have over 12 million blind people and around seven million are due to cataract, a treatable problem. Doctors therefore urge the public to be careful of various factors, including inhalation of cigarette or chulha smoke, which has been found to be a major cause for Indians developing cataract.
A study conducted by scientists from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) at Hyderabad and from the Food Technology Research Institute in Mysore, had found that inhalation of cigarette and chulha smoke is a major cause of Indians developing cataract.
“There are various causes for the development of cataract, of which, the two main ones are the Ultra Violet rays from the sun and secondly, poor nutrition in the country,” said Dr Amar Agarwal, CMD, Dr Agarwal’s Group of Eye Hospitals.
“Inhalation of cigarette and chulha smoke too can affect the eyes severely, besides destroying the body as a whole,” he added.
“We were initially uncertain whether smoke acted by penetrating the lens or after inhalation and absorption by body fluids. But now we are fairly certain the latter is true. The lens is well protected from outside influences by the cornea - the circular window in front of the eye - and the lens capsule that holds the lens in place. When cigarette or chulha smoke is inhaled, the aromatic hydrocarbon compounds in it get metabolised and release oxidising agents, which are activated by light and cause the crystallins to precipitate,” said Balasubramani, who led the team of researchers.
Though smokers and overworked housewives are more likely to develop cataract, they can prevent it by consuming anti-oxidising, vitamin C-rich foods such as amla and some leafy vegetables, he said.
