A NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW ABOUT THE TYPES OF CATARACTS

Abstract

Cataract is an extremely prevalent disease, being the biggest cause of blindness in the world. It is known that the surgery known as facetectomy with phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation can reverse any blindness caused by the disease, making it the most commonly performed surgery today. Its cause is related to the opacification of an ocular structure called crystalline lens, mainly responsible for visual accommodation. This pathological process prevents light rays from reaching the retina and forming the image properly. Aiming at the great impact that this ophthalmopathy has on the lives of many people, this narrative literature review brought together articles published free of charge in the PUBMED database, aiming to indicate the main types of cataracts. At the end, it was concluded that there are four main types of cataract: congenital, senile, secondary and traumatic. Other classifications are used in order to better define the location and degree of involvement of the patient's lens.