Cataract Flashcards
What is a Cataract?
Progressive cloudiness of the lens causing gradual vision loss and blindness if untreated.
What is the most common type of cataracts?
Age-related.
1 - Nuclear
2 - Cortical
3 - Posterior Subscapular.
What Grades are used to describe cataracts?
Immature - Partially opaque
Mature - Completely opaque
Hypermature - Shrunken anterior capsule due to leakage of material outside the lens.
Morgagnian - A form of hyper mature cataract with liquefaction to the cortex.
Describe a Nuclear Cataract?
Cloudiness of the nucleus, the central portion of the lens.
Describe a Cortical Cataract?
Swelling of the cortex causing spokes/wedge-like peripheral cloudiness.
Describe a Posterior subcapsular Cataract?
Opacity in the posterior capsule of the lens
Seen in younger individuals, steroid users, and diabetics.
Most visually significant and quick progression.
Most common source of organisms leading to post-operative endophthalmitis?
Most likely causative organism?
Patient’s lids (Own periocular flora)
Staphylococcus Epidermidis
What medication increases risk of complications during cataract surgery?
Doxazosin
or other A1-Angonists (Tamulosin) -> May cause intraoperative floppy iris syndrome
Intracameral phenylephrine can be used to dilate pupils in high risk patients.
What steps are recommended post cataract surgery to prevent post-cataract endophthalmitis?
Pre-operatively?
Sub-conjunctival injection of antibiotic at the end of surgery.
Using Iodine to clean patients eyes
Explain second sight phenomenon?
When there is a temporary change in vision during early cataract development. Before vision deteriorates, vision, especially close-up reading vision, improves significantly.
Main symptoms of Nuclear cataracts ?
Reduced VA, Myopic shift (Increasing myopia), dullness of colour.
What is the characteristic feature of cortical cataracts?
Glare with bright lights / halos when driving at night.
Explain the nature of cortical cataracts?
Opacification fo the lens cortex causing wedge shaped opacities.
Associated conditions with cortical cataracts?
Alport syndrome- Anterior lenticonus with cortical cataract.
Types of subcapsular cataracts?
Anterior - Opacities under the anterior capsule.
Posterior - Patients complain of glare and pdifficulty seeing in bright lights and near vision
What causes of acquired posterior subcapsular cataract?
Corticosteroids Diabetes (snowflake shaped) Retinitis pigmentosa NF2 Chloroquine