有零星的报告指出,紫外线防护(眼镜和太阳镜中的紫外线过滤)或抗氧化剂可能减缓白内障的进展。但是,没有明确的方法可预防白内障形成,而且一项研究调查了白内障高发且饮食中缺乏抗氧化剂的人群,结果未发现补充氧化剂对病情进展有任何效果。[10]Gritz DC, Srinivasan M, Smith SD, et al. The Antioxidants in Prevention of Cataracts Study: effects of antioxidant supplements on cataract progression in South India. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006;90:847-851.http://bjo.bmj.com/content/90/7/847.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16556618?tool=bestpractice.com此外,一项针对随机临床试验的 Meta 分析并未发现补充抗氧化维生素(β-胡萝卜素、维生素 C 或维生素 E)可防止或减慢白内障的进展。[11]Mathew MC, Ervin AM, Tao J, et al. Antioxidant vitamin supplementation for preventing and slowing the progression of age-related cataract. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(6):CD004567.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004567.pub2/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22696344?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Zheng Selin J, Rautiainen S, Lindblad BE, et al. High-dose supplements of vitamins C and E, low-dose multivitamins, and the risk of age-related cataract: a population-based prospective cohort study of men. Am J Epidemiol. 2013;177:548-555.http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/177/6/548.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23420353?tool=bestpractice.com
针对多种维生素和矿物质对白内障进展的作用已进行了研究;一个随机对照试验显示,尽管在服用多种维生素和矿物质制剂的那些患者中总白内障发生率是减小了,但后囊下白内障更为常见。[13]Maraini G, Sperduto RD, Ferris F, et al; Clinical Trial of Nutritional Supplements and Age-Related Cataract Study Group. A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial of multivitamin supplementation for age-related lens opacities. Clinical trial of nutritional supplements and age-related cataract report no. 3. Ophthalmology. 2008;115:599-607.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18387406?tool=bestpractice.com 逆转白内障形成的 N-乙酰肌肽并未增加。[14]Dubois VD, Bastawrous A. N-acetylcarnosine (NAC) drops for age-related cataract. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;(2):CD009493.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009493.pub2/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28245346?tool=bestpractice.com