Cataracts

Question 1

Cataracts is associated with which part of the eye?

Answer 1

lens

Question 2

Where does the lens derive its nutrition from?

Answer 2

aqueous fluid

Question 3

How does lens develop cataract?

Answer 3

proteins accumulate inside the lens, these proteins obstruct light and cause haziness in the lens= haziness= cataract

Proteins accumulate over time as a result of the natural metabolism
Everyone over the age of 40 has mild cataract
Usually takes several decades for the cataract to become visually significant

Question 4

List three risk factors for cataracts

Answer 4

Increasing age
Smoking
Alcohol
Diabetes
Steroids
Hypocalcaemia

Question 5

List two symptoms of cataracts

Answer 5

Gradual onset painless blurred vision for near and distance

Glare, especially driving at night

Question 6

What is the most common type of cataract?

Answer 6

Nuclear sclerotic cataract

Question 7

List two types of cataracts

Answer 7

Nuclear Sclerotic Cataracts. …
Cortical Cataracts. …
Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts.

Question 8

Name a condition which predisposes you to cataracts

Answer 8

marfan’s syndrome

Question 9

Mutation in which protein in marfan’s syndrome can result in cataracts?

Answer 9

fibrillin

Question 10

List two complications of cataract surgery

Answer 10

Intraoperative
-Posterior capsular rupture

Postoperative
-Endophthalmitis
-Uveitis
-Cystoid macular oedema
-Retinal detachment
-Posterior capsular opacification

Question 11

List two aspects of changes to vision with cataracts

Answer 11

Very slow reduction in vision
Progressive blurring of vision
Change of colour of vision with colours becoming more brown or yellow
“Starbursts” can appear around lights, particularly at night time

Question 12

What is a key sign of cataracts

Answer 12

loss of the red reflex. The lens can appear grey or white when testing the red reflex. This might show up on photographs taken with a flash.

Question 13

How to distinguish between reduction in vision seen in cataracts versus glaucoma versus ARMD?

Answer 13

Cataracts cause a generalised reduction in visual acuity with starbursts around lights. Glaucoma causes a peripheral loss of vision with halos around lights. Macular degeneration causes a central loss of vision with a crooked or wavy appearance to straight lines.

Question 14

Name one ocular condition that cataracts might mask?

Answer 14

diabetic retinopathy
macular degeneration

Question 15

Name the most serious complication of cataracts?

Answer 15

endopthalmitis!!!!
inflammation of the inner contents of the eye, usually caused by infection. It can be treated with intravitreal antibiotics injected into the eye. This can lead to loss of vision and loss of the eye itself.