Cataract

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

Clinical presentation

Visual deterioration occurs with increasing degrees of severity, and left untreated may present as complete blindness. The diagnosis is made clinically.

Pathology

Aetiology

Common causes include:

old age (most common)
congenital (see: congenital cataract)
post-traumatic
diabetes (osmotic)
radiation
- e.g. 'radiation-induced cataract' in the interventional radiologist ¹

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.

CT

Especially useful in acute cataract formation with increased fluid within the lens as in traumatic and osmotic cataract (hyperglycaemia) as well as unsuspected lens injury. The affected lens is hypodense compared to the contralateral lens with a mean density difference of about 30 HU ³.

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 href="/articles/lens">lens</a> within the <a href="/articles/globe-1">globe</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>
+<p><strong>Cataract</strong> is an opacification or thickening of the <a href="/articles/lens">lens</a> within the <a href="/articles/globe-1">globe</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, and left untreated may present as complete blindness. The diagnosis is made clinically.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><h5>Aetiology</h5><p>Common causes include:</p><ul>
-</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>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.</p><h5><strong>CT</strong></h5><p>Especially useful in acute cataract formation with increased fluid within the lens as in traumatic and osmotic cataract (hyperglycaemia) as well as unsuspected lens injury. The affected lens is hypodense compared to the contralateral lens with a mean density difference of about 30 <a title="Hounsfield unit" href="/articles/hounsfield-unit">HU</a> <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Treatment is surgical removal of the lens which is usually replaced by an <a title="intraocular lens implant" href="/articles/intraocular-lens-implant">intraocular lens implant</a>.</p>
+</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>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.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>Especially useful in acute cataract formation with increased fluid within the lens as in traumatic and osmotic cataract (hyperglycaemia) as well as unsuspected lens injury. The affected lens is hypodense compared to the contralateral lens with a mean density difference of about 30 <a href="/articles/hounsfield-unit">HU</a> <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Treatment is surgical removal of the lens which is usually replaced by an <a href="/articles/intraocular-lens-implant">intraocular lens implant</a>.</p>

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