Cataracts Flashcards
1
Q
What are cataracts?
A
Clouding of natural (crystalline) lens due to precipitation of proteins
Most common cause of preventable blindness
2
Q
What are the clinical features of cataracts?
A
- blurring, haze, dazzle of bright lights (esp when driving at night)
- affects near (reading) and distance (TV) equally
- washed-out colour vision
- usually both eyes but one can be more advanced
- fields + pupils normal
- may be defects in red reflex
3
Q
When do we treat cataracts?
A
When they are affecting life enough to justify smallrisk of surgery
4
Q
Risk factors for cataracts
A
Age
Steroids (systemic/topical)
Diabetes
5
Q
Management of cataracts
A
Surgery involves fragmenting and aspirating the cataractous lens
Plastic lens (intra-ocular lens (IOL) inserted in its place)
Performed under LA
