Cataracts

Published on 02/04/2015 by admin

Filed under Internal Medicine

Last modified 02/04/2015

Print this page

rate 1 star rate 2 star rate 3 star rate 4 star rate 5 star
Your rating: none, Average: 3 (1 votes)

This article have been viewed 1180 times

220 Cataracts

Instruction

Examine this patient’s eyes.

Salient features

History

• Drug history (steroids, chloroquine, phenothiazines, chlorambucil, busulfan)

• History of gradual deterioration of vision

• History of diabetes

• Inquire about smoking (JAMA 1992;268:989–94) and alcohol consumption (Arch Ophthalmol 1993;111:1130) as both cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol consumption increase the risk of cataract formation

• Family history is important even in age-related nuclear cataract as it explains about 50% variation in the severity of disease (N Engl J Med 2000;342:1786–90).

Examination

• Bilateral cataracts (shine light obliquely across the lens; Fig. 220.1, see also Fig. 201.3).

image image

Fig. 220.1 Cataracts. (A) Early. (B) White mature cataract.

(With permission from Kumar, Clark 2005.)

Proceed as follows:

• Tell the examiner that you would like to check the urine for sugar.

Diagnosis

This patient has premature bilateral cataracts (lesion) caused by diabetes mellitus (aetiology) and has had a gradual deterioration of vision (functional status).

Buy Membership for Internal Medicine Category to continue reading. Learn more here

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailSixth cranial nerve palsy Osteoarthrosis Optic atrophy Default ThumbnailHepatomegaly Carotid artery aneurysm Felty’s syndrome