Generally, there are four stages of senile cataracts - incipient stage, immature stage, mature stage and hyper-mature stage. Only when the cataract enters the mature or hyper-mature stage does surgery become an option.

On face value it would appear that in the initial stages, senile cataract patients have no choice but to wait.

But Dr Li disagrees. "Cure wei bing (disease-to-be) is TCM's strong point," she says claiming that although herbal medicine cannot help get rid of a mature cataract, it can help stop it from worsening in the early and middle stages.

There is no clearly formed pearl-like cover of the eyes of cataract patients in the early stages, which makes it possible to delay, control or even reverse growth. Patients usually find their eyesight decreasing yet feel no pain, itching or puffiness.

TCM divides cataracts into two categories according to different internal imbalances - weak kidneys and liver and weak spleen and insufficient energy and blood. Each requires different treatment principles.

Senile cataract patients with weak kidneys and liver usually suffer dizziness, ringing of the ears, back and knee pain, as well as decreased eyesight.

TCM doctors usually prescribe herbal medicines for patients that help reinforce energy in the kidneys and liver. Chinese drugs like "Qiju Dihuang Wan" made from wolfberry, chrysanthemum, di huang (rehmanniae), dogwood and moutan bark are recommended.

Patients with a weak spleen and insufficient blood and energy usually suffer from a bad appetite and no strength along with decreased eyesight.

In this case, TCM doctors recommend Chinese drugs "Buzhong Yiqi Wan," which is made from huang qi (milk vetch), dang shen (radix codonopsitis), bai shu (bighead atractylodes rhizome), dang gui (angelica), dried orange peel, sheng ma (cimicifuga foetida), chai hu (Chinese thorowax) and liquorice.