A cataract is clouding of the natural lens of the eye, most often from aging, and is a leading cause of treatable vision loss. Other causes include diabetes, steroid use, eye injury and congenital disease.
Key symptoms
- Slow, painless blurry vision
- Glare and halos, especially when driving at night
- Faded colors
- Frequent changes in glasses prescription
What you find on exam
- Reduced visual acuity on a Snellen chart
- Dull or absent red reflex
- Lens clouding on slit lamp
- Normal pupil reactions
Tests
- Dilated eye exam by an eye specialist
- Look for other causes of vision loss, such as retinal disease or glaucoma
- Biometry before surgery to choose the lens implant
- Cataract in an infant: urgent referral and work-up
Treatment basics
- Early: updated glasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare lenses
- Surgery (phacoemulsification with lens implant) when vision limits daily life
- Steroid and antibiotic eye drops after surgery
- Infants: early surgery to prevent amblyopia
Red flags
- Pain, redness and vision loss days after surgery (endophthalmitis)
- Flashes, floaters or a curtain after surgery (retinal detachment)
- White pupil in a baby
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Sources: NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations. Written by Making Synapses. Making Synapses is not affiliated with these organizations.