Cataracts

Question 1

What are cataracts?

Answer 1

clouding of the lens of the eye caused by protein breakdown

Question 2

What is the most common cause of blindness worldwide?

Answer 2

Cataracts

Question 3

Who are cataracts particularly prevalent in?

Answer 3

Elderly

Question 4

What is the role of the lens?

Answer 4

to focus light on the retina

Question 5

What structure attaches the lens to the ciliary body?

Answer 5

suspensory ligaments

Question 6

Contraction of the ciliary body has what effect on the shape of the lens?

Answer 6

The lens thickens

Question 7

Relaxation of the ciliary body has what effect on the shape of the lens?

Answer 7

the lens narrow

Question 8

What is the lens nucleus?

Answer 8

Middle aspect of the lens

Question 9

What is the lens cortex?

Answer 9

Outer aspect of the lens

Question 10

What is the lens capsule?

Answer 10

The membrane surrounding the lens

Question 11

What are nuclear cataracts?

Answer 11

Nuclear cataracts are caused by sclerosis of the lens nucleus and are common in old age.

Question 12

What are 2 typical symptoms of nuclear cataracts?

Answer 12

1. Myopia
2. Colours appearing dull

Question 13

Why does myopia occur in nuclear cataracts?

Answer 13

Myopia occurs as sclerosis changes the lens refractive index. Patients experiencing this symptom will often say that they previously needed reading glasses, but no longer require them.

Question 14

What are the 3 types of cataracts?

Answer 14

1. Nuclear
2. Cortical
3. Posterior subcapsular

Question 15

What are cortical cataracts caused by?

Answer 15

Cortical cataracts are caused by opacifications of the lens cortex.

Question 16

How does cortical cataracts present on oplthamoscopy?

Answer 16

the opacifications look like the spokes of a wheel around the edge of the lens

Question 17

What are posterior subcapsular cataracts?

Answer 17

are caused by opacifications in the posterior aspect of the lens capsule

Question 18

Who does posterior subcapsular cataracts typically affect?

Answer 18

1. Younger patients
2. Individuals taking steroids

Question 19

What are 2 clinical features of cataracts?

Answer 19

1. Patients complain of glare
2. Posterior subcapsular cataracts often progress more rapidly than other types of cataracts.

Question 20

Give 6 risk factors for cataracts?

Answer 20

1) increasing age
2) steroid use
3) alcohol
4) smoking
5) hypercalcaemia
6) diabetes

Question 21

Give 5 presentations associated with cataracts:

Answer 21

1. Slow reduction in visual acuity
2. Progressive blurring of vision
3. Colours becoming more faded, brown or yellow
4. Starbursts appear around lights
5. Loss of the red reflex

Question 22

What colour is a cataract under an ophthalmoscope?

Answer 22

grey or white

Question 23

What is the most common treatment for cataracts?

Answer 23

cataract surgery

Question 24

What does cataract surgery involve?

Answer 24

drilling and breaking the lens, removing the pieces and implanting an artificial lens under local anaesthetic

Question 25

What is endophthalmitis?

Answer 25

inflammation of the inner contents of the eye

Question 26

Name a severe complication of cataract surgery:

Answer 26

endophthalmitis

Question 27

How is endophthalmitis managed?

Answer 27

intravitreal antibiotics injected directly into the eye