Cataract

Changed by Bruno Di Muzio, 24 Apr 2015

Back to revision history

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Show markup changes

Cataract is an opacification or thickening of the lens and is the leading cause of blindness in the world ².

Clinical presentation

Visual deterioration occurs with increasing degrees of severity. The diagnosis is made clinically.

Pathology

Aetiology

Common causes include:

old age (most common)
congenital (see: congenital cataract)
post traumatic
diabetes
radiation
- for the interventional radiologist so called 'radiation-induced cataract' of all radiation exposure risks¹

Radiographic features

Ultrasound

Ocular ultrasound is performed when there is suspicion of posterior globe pathology but visualisation of the back of the eye is obscured by the opaque lens.

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment is surgical removal of the lens which is usually replaced by an intraocular lens implant.

-<p><strong>Cataract</strong> is an opacification or thickening of the <a title="lens" href="/articles/lens">lens</a>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Visual deterioration occurs with increasing degrees of severity. The diagnosis is made clinically.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>Common causes include:</p><ul>
+<p><strong>Cataract</strong> is an opacification or thickening of the <a href="/articles/lens">lens</a> and is the leading cause of blindness in the world <sup>2</sup>. </p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Visual deterioration occurs with increasing degrees of severity. The diagnosis is made clinically.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>Common causes include:</p><ul>
~~-<li>congenital (see: <a title="congenital cataract" href="/articles/congenital-cataract">congenital cataract</a>)</li>~~
+<li>congenital (see: <a href="/articles/congenital-cataract">congenital cataract</a>)</li>
-<li>radiation<ul><li>for the interventional radiologist so called <a href="/articles/radiation-associated-lens-opacities">'radiation-induced cataract'</a> of all radiation exposure risks <sup>1</sup>
+<li>radiation<ul><li>for the interventional radiologist so called <a href="/articles/radiation-associated-lens-opacities">'radiation-induced cataract'</a> of all radiation exposure risks <sup>1</sup>

References changed:

2. Congdon N, Vingerling JR, Klein BE et-al. Prevalence of cataract and pseudophakia/aphakia among adults in the United States. Arch. Ophthalmol. 01;122 (4): 487-94. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archopht.122.4.487">doi:10.1001/archopht.122.4.487</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15078665">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>

Systems changed:

Head & Neck

Images Changes:

Image 4 Ultrasound ( create )

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

{"current_user":null,"inclusions":[{"imageId":972,"studyId":37552,"caseSlug":"cataract-1","caption":"Case 1: ultrasound showing cataract","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/972/f7c9288da68d7d9fbef6c93101136c_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":3410627,"studyId":23079,"caseSlug":"ocular-ultrasound-cataract-and-retinal-detachment","caption":"Case 2: with retinal detachment","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/3410627/a119a2e5e96f83f52ee6df0a759433_big_gallery.jpg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":5429015,"studyId":26747,"caseSlug":"cataract","caption":"Case 3","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/5429015/fa610a91c7278363e636128f63681f_big_gallery.jpg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_unsubstantiated"},{"imageId":25062732,"studyId":52767,"caseSlug":"cataract-2","caption":"Case 4","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/25062732/d86f2fe28c9d0d5bca4d3445c137bf_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_unsubstantiated"},{"imageId":34960918,"studyId":64543,"caseSlug":"traumatic-cataract-2","caption":"Case 6: traumatic cataract","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/34960918/6c9a6ba265d9ef587729c8a183859e_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":51417258,"studyId":80518,"caseSlug":"cataract-3","caption":"Case 7","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/51417258/a0509e91ac745f366efcb046f734ca_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":false,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"},{"imageId":52835674,"studyId":91299,"caseSlug":"traumatic-cataract-3","caption":"Case 8","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/52835674/59e7c849daaed4610f39ae53cce499_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"probable"},{"imageId":54802810,"studyId":105161,"caseSlug":"post-traumatic-cataract","caption":"Case 9: post traumatic","thumbnail":"https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/54802810/6e6c2123f64f98f10fd9e60cc6e737a901f6a5b3f56217a4917552371865e5f9_big_gallery.jpeg","isStack":true,"diagnosticCertainty":"confirmed_substantiated"}],"ddx_inclusions":[],"lang":"us"}