Cataracts Flashcards
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
Refractive error change - irregular astigmatism or myopic shift
Glare - haloes and increased scatter
Colour vision change - more blue/yellow
Blurred vision - reduced VA and CS
Monocular diplopia
What are the types of age-related cataracts?
Nuclear sclerotic
Posterior subcapsular
Cortical
What are the types of traumatic cataracts?
Direct penetration
Blunt trauma
What are the types of congenital/juvenile cataracts?
Sutural
Nuclear
Blue dot
Coronary
Lamellar
What are the advanced stages of a cataract?
Intumescent (swollen)
Mature (opaque)
Hyper-mature (lens leakage and cataract shrinks)
Morganian (cortex liquefied, nucleus sinks)
What pharmaceuticals can induce cataratcs?
Corticosteroids (post or ant subcapsular)
Chlorpromazine (star)
Miotics (tiny ant subcapsular vacuoles on long term use)
Amiodarone (subcapsular deposits)
What are the signs of a nuclear sclerotic cataract?
Reduced transparency and yellowing of the nucleus
Pseudo-myopic shift
What are the signs of a posterior subcapsular cataract?
Dot like shape
Increased glare
NV more affected than DV
What are the signs of a cortical cataract?
Increased glare
Radial spokes in cortex
Why can diabetes cause cataracts?
Unregulated blood sugar levels causes increased and then decreased amounts of sugar in the lens causing stress to the lens
What are the signs of a diabetic cataract?
Bilateral
Quick progression
Snowflake, cortical and white punctate opacities
What ocular diseases can cause secondary cataracts?
Chronic anterior uveitis
Acute ACG
High myopia
RP
What drops is a px given after cataract surgery and why?
Antibiotic to prevent infection
Corticosteroid to reduce inflammation
What are the possible complications of cataract surgery?
Cystoid macular oedema
Vitreous loss
Posterior capsular opacification
Iris prolapse
Endophthalmitis
