Lens and Cataracts Flashcards
Describe the anatomy of the lens
Cellular laminated avascular capsule
Inner nucleus is dense and water insoluble
Outer cortex is water soluble alpha/beta crystalline fibers
Anterior epithelial layer between cortex/capsule
Lens capsule is the basement membrane by epithelial cells
Describe the composition of the lens
Dehydrated structure 65% water and 35% solid
85% of solids - soluble alpha and beta crystalline fibers from the cortex; 13% are insoluble albuminoids, 2% gamma crystalline fibers in the nucleus
What is the purpose of the lens metabolism?
Clarity of lens
Briefly, talk about the biochemistry of ions and proteins in the lens
High potassium; low sodium
Proteins mostly responsible for whether or not lens remains clear
What is the definition of a cataract?
Any congenital or acquired opacity in the lens capsule or substance irrespective of the effect on vision
Can happen with aging and is common, can manifest as leukocoria
What are some congenital causes of cataracts?
Developmenta Maternal infection Metabolic Chromosomal (Down's) Ocular maldevelopment (Peter's Anomaly) Birth trauma
What are some causes of acquired cataracts?
Senile Endocrine (DM) Trauma (Blunt, radiation) Drugs Metabolic (ecxema) Genetic late onset Intraocular disease
Describe developmental cataracts
Congenital or formed early in life, don’t usually interefere with vision (a technically opacity)
Name the many kinds of developmental cataracts
Congenital nuclear Anterior polayer (pyramidal) Umbilicated Axial fusiform Sutural opacities Coralliform Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous (PHPV) Luxated Lens Zonula/Lamellar Galactosemia Spherophakia Lenticonus
Describe a congenital nuclear cataracts
Tiny white dot
Located in the center of the lens
Formed by loose epithelical cells getting caught during lens vessicle formation
Rarely affect vision if eveer
Describe an anterior polar cataract (pyramidal)
Occurs in 4th week as lens vessicle pinches off surface ectoderm
Opacity on the front surface of lens capsule
Cataract has pyramidal shape with apex pointing out into AC
No VA effect
Describe an Umbilical Cataract
If during 4th week of development posterior epithelial cells do not become primary lens fibers then nucleus never forms, a collapse and opaque lens forms
“Umbilicated - like a red blood corpuscle”
Describe an Axial fusion cataract
Lens fibers diying while they mitigate forward
Opacity forms anterior to posterior going through many layers of the lens
Describe Sutural Opacities
Form when the lens fibers do not meet properly and cause an extra space that’s filled with an albuminoid substance
Describe a coralliform cataract
Sutural opacities with an irregular coral shape, aggregated sutural opacities that combine
May or may not affect VA
Describe a persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous cataract
Forms in the 7th month of development and avascular
Hyaloid vasculosa (primary vitreous) can persist and pervent lens growth –> small lens that’s opaque and still vascularized
Can result in leukocoria
Can see Mittendorf Dots too, reminants of PHPV on the back of the lens
Describe a tunica vasculosa lentis
Form of PHPV; unilateral and noticed in neonatal period
Associated with micropthalmos, lens may be cataractous
IOP may be high
Elongated ciliary processes are visible through dilated pupil
B-scan confirms the diagnosis in presence of a cataract
What is a Lens Coloboma?
Tertiary vitreous fail to form –> lens will be subluxated
May form due to iris coloboma or Marfan’s syndrome
Describe a lamellar cataract/zonular cataract
Due to calcium levels droping then restoring causing opacification and clearing
In young children the opacity are large and with age appears smaller as it’s pushed towards center of the lens
Can appear as spokes/riders
What is a Galactosemia cataract?
Developmental cataract, rare and bilateral condition
Caused by lack of enzymes to metabolize galactose in GI tract
Cataract is right below lens capsule
Condition may reverse if caught early enough
What are the two kinds of galactosemia cataracts?
Deficiency of Galactokinase - only involves formation of cataracts
Deficiency of Uridil Transferease - More common, mental retardation if milk continues to be ingested “failure to thrive”
What is spherophakia/microspherophakia
Congenital variant and child is born wit ha small highly convex lens that is almost spherical in shape
Results in very high myopia
May cause pupillary block, lens bulging forward and blocking the aqueous
What is lenticonus?
Lens capsule too thin and causing a cone line protrusion of the lens
What are the signs of lenticonus?
High myopia, high irregular astigmatism
May occur anteriorly or posteriorly
What is lentiglobus?
Much larger area affected but otherwise it’s lenticonus, entier posterior lens can be bulging for example
What is a Senescent Cataract?
The most common and inevitable cataract due to decrease in lens metabolism, an aggregation of proteins and Na/K atpase slows down.
Age Related
What are common patient complaints for senescent cataracts?
Smoky hazy vision
Not a sudden loss of vision, no VF loss and no pain
What are the three kinds of senescent cataract?
Cortical
Nuclear
Posterior Subcapsular