Herbal eyedrops like "Shezhu Mingmu Ye," with the main ingredients being musk, pearl powder and borneol, and "Zhenzhu Mingmu Ye," mainly made of pearl powder and borneol, can also help activate blood circulation in the eyes and clear eyesight for cataract sufferers in the early and middle stages.

As for cataract patients at the mature or hyper-mature stages, Dr Li strongly recommends surgery as herbal treatments cannot help remove the opaque cover which forms over the eye.

But herbal medicines that help dispel excessive wind and stimulate blood circulation can help relieve rejection reaction after surgery and accelerate a patient's recovery.

Dr Li also suggests cataract patients maintain a plain diet avoiding fried or greasy foods even if their surgery is successful. She also says wearing sunglasses in strong sunlight is essential.

(Shanghai Daily September 16, 2008)