Aetiology
Causes of cataract include: (1)
- old age (senile cataract) - caused by gradual build up of yellow-brown pigment within the lens resulting in reduced light transmission
- secondary to ocular disease:
- glaucoma
- degenerative
- myopia
- retinal detachment
- metabolic and endocrine causes:
- diabetes mellitus
- galactosaemia
- hypocalcaemia
- hypoglycaemia
- steroids
- infective causes:
- rubella
- inflammation
- physical causes:
- trauma
- radiotherapy
- prolonged exposure to infra red rays e.g. glassblower's cataract
- electric shock
- genetic:
- congenital in 1 in 250 neonates
- myotonic dystrophy
- Refsum's disease
- Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome
- hepatolenticular degeneration
- toxic agents:
- corticosteroids
- phenothiazines
- 2,4 DNP
- tripanolol
Reference:
- Gupta VB, Rajagopala M, Ravishankar B. Etiopathogenesis of cataract: an appraisal. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2014 Feb;62(2):103-10
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