Most everyone knows that calcium is an important part of bone
health and keeping bones strong. In fact calcium plays a key role in the
development of osteoporosis, a disease in which
bones lose their density, become fragile and are more likely to fracture. But
did you know that calcium is also an important factor in cataract
formation?
Research on Calcium,
Osteoporosis & Cataract Risk
Researchers reporting in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology evaluated an association between cataracts, cataract surgery and
osteoporosis. Their findings were interesting in that age, female sex, higher
socioeconomic class, smoking, chronic renal failure, hyperthyroidism,
rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases are all associated with an
increased prevalence of osteoporosis. Then, through careful statistical
modeling they also found that these factors and osteoporosis are ALL associated
with an increased prevalence of cataracts. Thus, they concluded that
osteoporosis is associated with the presence of cataracts which may be related
to calcium imbalance, hormonal abnormalities, and even a shared genetic
predisposition.
If you or someone you know is concerned about osteoporosis and
their risk of cataracts, please schedule an eye examination at Alabama Eye
& Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930,
visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or
http://www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.
Alabama Eye
& Cataract Center is located at UAB-Highlands in Birmingham, 1201 11th
Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, and is staffed by UAB Medicine
Cataract Surgeons Marc
Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D.
