A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye which causes clouded vision. Most cataracts are age-related, and about half of Americans over the age of 65 have some evidence of clouding of the lens. After age 75, approximately 70% of Americans have cataracts that are significant enough to interfere with vision. Some studies have suggested a beneficial role for Vitamin E in reducing the development of cataracts due to its antioxidant effect. However, in the May issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, scientists from Harvard Medical School reported that Vitamin E supplementation was not associated with a reduced risk of age-related cataracts in healthy women.

The investigators identified 39,876 healthy female professionals aged 45 and older and treated them with either 600 IU of vitamin E supplementation or a placebo pill every other day. Then, they followed these women for an average of 9.7 years to evaluate for the presence of age-related cataracts. They found no significant difference in the development of age-related cataracts between the two groups of women, even when taking into account age, smoking history, multi-vitamin use, and several other possible risk factors for cataract.

Among the potential limitations of this study are the relatively young age of the participants and the possibility that either the dose of vitamin E was too low or the time of treatment wasn't long enough. Perhaps longer-term treatment, or a combination of anti-oxidants, would delay the development and progression of age-related cataracts, but further studies are needed.