[Clinical and time factors of various forms of senile cataract. (Prospective study)]

This paper presents the results of vision and slit-lamp examinations of supranuclear senile cataracts in patients whom the author has been examining for several years with the same instrument. The supranuclear, gray senile cataract (water cleft-spokes, lamellar fissures, wedge-shaped opacities) is the one with the slowest rate of development, often changing only little or not at all for several years (6 or more). The primary gray nuclear cataract also develops very slowly and frequently causes a deterioration in vision only after several years, by producing a lens with a double focal point and increasing myopia. In very long-standing cases (more than 7 years) a black cataract develops. As a senile cataract, the subcapsular cataract (permeability cataract) deteriorates rapidly within months. Subcapsular colored glints, vacuoles and granular opacities occur, more often posteriorly than anteriorly. In some cases a secondary gray nuclear opacity develops very rapidly (in contrast to the primary variety), which does not lead to myopia or black cataract. Cation pump and glutathione content remain normal in the supranuclear gray senile cataract and the primary nuclear cataract for some time; however, they are disturbed immediately and to a great extent in the subcapsular cataract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)