Cataract extraction / by H. Herbert.

  • Herbert, H.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Cataract extraction / by H. Herbert. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    perinuclear. There is a quantity of perfectly clear cortex, through which a very distinct shadow is thrown by the iris. This deep central uniform cloudiness may remain with but little change for years, affecting vision greatly from its position, but remaining quite unfit for operation. In other eyes the (greenish) opacity comes well up to the iris, but it is so slight that a faint shadow is transmitted from the iris through the superficial layers of the lens. The transparent appearance of such a lens after removal is remarkable ; there may or may not be a small central haze or cloud of opacity noticeable (after removal). The superficial layers, though so clear, are fairly firm and coherent, and shell out easily entire. In the ripe stage these lenses vary considerably in size and appearance. The diminution in size, especially in thickness, varies inversely with the degree of nuclear sclerosis, and therefore to a large extent with the age of the patient. A broad thick disc may result, with sharp edge; but more frequently the contraction is lateral as well as antero-posterior. The nucleus ranges from opaque white or cream-coloured in a few rather young lenses with defective sclerosis, through the average smoky brown, to the larger dark hypersclerotic nucleus. The lenses with whitish nucleus may appear perfectly ripe clinically, while on extraction the equatorial rim of cortex may be found quite or nearly transparent. This thin transparent or translucent rim is, however, firm, and separates whole from the capsule. In other lenses the distinction between nucleus and cortex is not very evident; the loss of trans- parency seems uniform throughout, but very incomplete. There may be fine superficial radial slits or cracks on the anterior surface. The overripe lens is remarkable for its flattened discoid shape, and often for its small size; also for the amount
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