Hypermature Cataract #
If a cataract remains in the eye for a very long time, the cataractous lens can create serious secondary problems. However, before this would occur, loss of visual acuity would severely affect your everyday activities such as reading or driving.
Clinical features: #
- Liquefying lens cortex
- Sunken brownish nucleus
- Flecks of calcium salt deposits on the anterior capsule
- Dense capsular opacities can be from epithelial hypertrophy
- May has undergone spontaneous rupture to the anterior chamber, causing an inflammatory reaction which is known as phacoanaphyllaxis uveitis
- May also be complicated with phacolytic glaucoma as the inflammatory cells become trapped in the trabecular meshwork and obstructed the filtration flow of the aqueous humour
Management: #
B-scan ultrasound study to rule out complicated co-existing intraocular diseases.
Cataract extraction is the answer finally. However, the technique will be decided by your eye specialist. The operative and postoperative complication rate are higher in hyper mature cataracts. These complications can be reduced by early removal of cataract before it reaches the stage of hyper-maturity. Extracapsular surgery of hyper-mature cataract has good results after thorough preoperative assessment and if performed with expertise. Modern Phaco machines may also be used for this purpose in expert hands.
