Traumatic Cataract

Traumatic Cataract

The incidence of these lens opacities is higher in men than in women due to occupational and sports injuries. The following types of traumatic cataracts are differentiated:

Frequent traumatic cataracts:

❖ Contusion cataract: Contusion of the eyeball will produce a rosette-shaped subcapsular opacity on the anterior surface of the lens. It will nor-mally remain unchanged but will migrate into the deeper cortex over time due to the apposition of new fibers (Fig. 7.13).

Rarer traumatic cataracts:

❖ Infrared radiation cataract (glassblower’s cataract): This type of cataractoccurs after decades of prolonged exposure to the infrared radiation of fire without eye protection. Characteristic findings include splitting of the anterior lens capsule, whose edges will be observed to curl up and float in the anterior chamber. Occupational safety regulations have drastically reduced the incidence of this type of cataract.

❖ Electrical injury: This dense subcapsular cataract can be caused bylightning or high-voltage electrical shock.

❖ Cataract from ionizing radiation