👁️ Cataracts – High-Yield Revision for the MSRA 👁️

Welcome to anotherDeep Dive! Today we’re focusing on one of the most common causes of vision lossworldwide – cataracts.

🧠 What you'll learn in this episode:

• Clear definition of cataracts: progressive clouding of the lens leading to blurry vision
• Why age is the biggest culprit, but how trauma, diabetes, steroids, UV exposure & smoking also play key roles
• How cataracts present: think gradual vision loss, glare sensitivity, faded colours, halos, frequent glasses changes
• Types of cataracts (nuclear, cortical, subcapsular) and how they differ
• How to diagnose them (visual acuity, slit lamp exam, red reflex check, dilated fundoscopy)
• Definitive management: cataract surgery with IOL implantation
• Prognosis: excellent with surgery, but untreated cataracts can lead to blindness
• Key complications post-op: posterior capsule opacification (PCO), infection (endophthalmitis), or raised IOP

📝 Memory Aids:

• 🔑 Mnemonic: AFMSS for risk factors – Age, Family history, Medical conditions (esp. diabetes), Sunlight, Smoking
• 🔍 Symptoms: BGLCDH – Blurred vision, Glare, Low-light difficulty, Colour fading, Double vision, Halos

🎯 MSRA Focus:

• Know when surgery is indicated (not just vision score – based on functional impact)
• Surgery is the only curative treatment – drops & glasses help symptoms but don’t reverse the disease
• Posterior capsule opacification is the most common post-op issue and is fixed with YAG laser

🌍 Did you know?

• Over 12 million people globally are blind due to cataracts
• In the UK, >50% of people over 65 have cataracts, and 70% of those over 85
• Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries worldwide

🎧 Whether you're revising or just want to betterunderstand one of the most impactful eye conditions, this episode distilseverything you need to know into one clear, concise package.

🧩 Useful Resources:

• Cataract revisionnotes → https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/cataract-revision-notes/

• Flashcards → https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/cataract-flashcards/

• Q&A styleaccordions → https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/cataract-accordion-qa-notes/

• Rapid quiz → https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/cataract-rapid-quiz/

• Bonus MCQ quiz → https://www.passthemsra.com/quizzes/cataract/

#MSRA #Cataract#Ophthalmology #MSRARevision #MedicalEducation #PassTheMSRA #FreeMSRA#MSRApodcast #VisionLoss #CataractSurgery #EyeHealth