Cataracts Flashcards
What are cataracts?
Clouding of the lens
What can cause cataracts?
Normal ageing process
Smoking
Increased alcohol consumption
Trauma
Long-term corticosteroids
What are risk factors for cataracts?
Old age DM FHx Prolonged steroid treatment HTN Excessive alcohol Smoking
What are the features of cataracts?
Gradual blurring of vision
Painless
Glare
Haloes around lights
What is a sign of cataracts?
Defect in red reflex
What is the red reflex?
Red reflection seen through an ophthalmoscope when light is shone on the retina
What are the types of cataract?
Congenital
Nuclear
Subscapular
Dot
What is a congenital cataract?
Localized and polar
Inherited
What is a nuclear cataract?
Central change in lens refractive index
Common in elderly
What is a subscapular cataract?
Deep to lens capsular
Due to steroid use
What is a dot cataract?
Common in DM
How are cataracts managed?
Surgery
- lens replacement
What are complications of cataract surgery?
Endophthalmitis
Posterior capsule rupture
Posterior capsule opacification
Vitreous haemorrhage
