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Cataract

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High Yield Notes

13 pages

Flashcards

Cataract

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Questions

USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

of complete

A 71-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician with visual changes. The patient has been seeing colored halos around lights for the past six months and has also noticed her vision has become progressively blurrier. Since symptom onset, she has not experienced any pain or conjunctival erythema. Past medical history is notable for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and asthma. She is currently retired but formerly worked as a national park ranger. Temperature is 37.7°C (99.9°F), blood pressure is 151/83 mmHg, and pulse is 76/min. Visual acuity is 20/20 in the right eye and 20/70 in the left eye. A slit-lamp examination is shown below. Which of the following is the most common risk factor for the development of this patient’s condition?
 
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Memory Anchors and Partner Content

External References

First Aid

2024

2023

2022

2021

Alcoholism p. 589

cataracts and p. 550

Alport syndrome p. 614

cataracts and p. 550

Cataracts p. 550

corticosteroid toxicity p. 118

diabetes mellitus and p. 350

galactosemia p. 78

muscular dystrophy p. 59

rubella p. 181

sorbitol p. 79

Corticosteroids

cataracts p. 550

Diabetes mellitus p. 350-358

cataracts and p. 550

Down syndrome p. 61

cataracts and p. 550

Edwards syndrome p. 61

cataracts and p. 550

Eye disorders

cataracts p. 550

Galactokinase deficiency p. 78

cataracts and p. 550

Galactosemia p. 78

cataracts and p. 550

Lens

infantile cataracts p. 78

Marfan syndrome

cataracts p. 550

Myotonic dystrophy

cataracts and p. 550

Patau syndrome p. 61

cataracts p. 550

Rubella p. 166

cataracts p. 550

Smoking

cataracts p. 550

ToRCHeS infections p. 166, 181

cataracts p. 550

External Links

Summary

A cataract is a condition in which the eye becomes cloudy and opacified, affecting ones s vision. Cataracts can be congenital, meaning people are born with them. Congenital cataracts usually result from congenital infections or some genetic or metabolic conditions. Cataracts can also be acquired, usually in individuals with advanced age. Acquired cataracts develop slowly and can occur in one or both eyes. Over time, they become more dense and yellowed and can eventually cause blindness. Common risk factors for acquired cataracts include old age, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, eye infection, or trauma. Risk is also increased in people with Diabetes Mellitus or in people whose eyes are exposed to radiation such as ultraviolet.