Minor Cataracts: What Does That Mean?

According to him, cataracts form when proteins in the lens of the eye begin to clump together, creating a slight cloudiness. It’s typically gradual. Subtle. A soft haze over time.

And while my ego staged a brief protest, something deeper clicked.
Cataracts aren’t a sudden catastrophe.
They’re a gradual filtering of light.

My First Realization: How We Develop “Cataracts of Perception”

Here’s where I can’t resist a metaphor. Because what if cataracts in our eyes mirror something else entirely?

As we move through life, we accumulate experiences:

• A disappointment here

• A betrayal there

• A dream that got lost somewhere in dreamland

• A headline that makes you want to relocate to a goat farm on a tropical island (I’ll go wherever there are goats)

Little by little, beliefs form.

“I’m too old for that.”
“Things never work out for me.”
“The world is going to hell in a hand-basket” (one of my dad’s favorites—and he didn’t even live to witness a Trump presidency)
“I missed my best chance.”
“People always act that way”

Distortions gather like protein clumps of belief.

And before we know it, we’re no longer seeing reality clearly. We’re seeing it through our accumulated narrative haze.

Just like cataracts filter out light, our limiting assumptions filter out possibilities.

The Brain’s Remarkable Ability to Adapt

Here’s the fascinating thing about that floater that sent me to the doctor in the first place. Completely harmless. Annoying, yes. Dramatic, no.

The doctor explained that floaters drift around for a while, and then something remarkable happens. The brain—that brilliant, adaptive wizard—learns to ignore them.

It literally edits them out of your conscious perception. It chooses what deserves attention and what can safely be relegated to background noise.

During the exam, the optometrist flipped lenses in front of my eyes.

“Better one… or better two?”

Click.
Click.
Click.

Letters that had looked like abstract art suddenly snapped into clarity.

Better one… or better two?

That question has lingered with me ever since.

And that’s how my second realization landed: if the brain can do this with physical floaters, we can train ourselves to do it with mental ones too.

In other words, we get to choose what we focus on. Not in a toxic positivity, “pretend nothing is wrong” way. But through deliberate, gentle recalibration of our attention. I call it retraining my brain.

How You Can Shift Your Perspective (A Simple Clarity Practice)

We may not control aging. Bodies change. Eyes shift. Proteins clump.

But perception? That’s surprisingly flexible.

Here’s a simple experiment you can try this week:

1. Notice one area of your life where you believe “this is just how it is.”

2. Ask: What else could be true?

Not in a forced positivity way. Not in denial. Just curiosity.

Better one… or better two?

For example:

• “I’m too old to start something new.” → What if I’m exactly the right age?

• “It’s too late.” → What if it’s perfect timing?

• “This never works.” → What if I’ve been looking through the wrong lens?

Sometimes the blur isn’t destiny.
It’s just a mental setting.
And settings can be changed.

Aging, Awareness and Choosing Clarity

So maybe almost everyone develops minor cataracts eventually, and floaters are common. Vision changes as we age.

But awareness gives us something we can control.

We can’t eliminate every shadow.
But we can choose where to place our focus.

My floater is still drifting around like it’s found a new home. But it no longer feels ominous. It’s just part of the landscape that will eventually seem to vanish.

A reminder that vision—physical and metaphorical—isn’t about achieving perfect sight.

It’s about choosing clarity.

Everyone has filters.
Not everyone chooses to adjust the lens.

Shock # 2—you were waiting for it, right?

The doctor also told me I have very mild “age-related macular degeneration.” Another common issue, particularly for those of us with light colored eyes who love the sun but not the sunglasses. Staring at computer screens for hours on end probably doesn’t help either.

I asked him about the cause and he said, “Too many birthdays.” At least he had a good sense of humor. The scientific cause is oxidative stress. Dang!

I’ve always eaten lots of antioxidant-rich vegetables, fruits and many of the protective foods listed on just about every eye health website, but apparently that wasn’t enough.

What to Eat for Eye Protection

Here are the nutrients recommended specifically for eyes, ideally whole foods, not supplements:

• Beta-Carotene (converts to Vitamin A): dark leafy greens, orange veggies (cooked or raw)
• Vitamin C: fresh raw fruits and veggies
• Vitamin E: nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans

• Omega-3 fatty acids: ground flaxseed, chia, hemp seeds, walnuts, algal oil, and seaweed
• Zinc & selenium: legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains
• Flavonoids and Antioxidants—especially lutein and zeaxanthin: deep green, yellow, and orange fruits and veggies, berries, nuts

Here’s a webpage with a list of some excellent foods to support eye health: https://myplantbasedplan.com/21-vision-protecting-foods-containing-nutrients-that-reduce-eye-strain-according-to-optometrists/

(Not really a “plant-based plan” when they include sardines. I prefer chia, flax, hemp seeds, walnuts and dark leafy greens for my omega fatty acids—plus an occasional algae-based DHA and EPA supplement.)

I think they should have included wild blueberries, but otherwise it’s good info. you won’t see everywhere else… and I LOVE those purple sweet potatoes. 💖

The lesson here? Wear sunglasses in bright sunlight, bump up the antioxidant foods, and start drinking the Medical Medium heavy metal detox smoothies every day. Interesting that the spirulina, dulse, oranges and berries included in the HMD smoothies are also recommended to prevent macular degeneration.

I haven’t identified any pertinent metaphors for macular degeneration yet. Maybe it will pop up in another blog post.

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