What Is a Traumatic Cataract?

A traumatic cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens after an injury. This is usually due to blunt or penetrating trauma to the eye from an accident or violent attack. More rarely, a traumatic cataract can develop as a result of electric shock, chemical burns or radiation. 

A traumatic cataract may develop within weeks of an injury to the lens, or it can take months or even years. That’s why regular follow-up care with your doctor is important.

A quick look at eye injuries

Eye injuries are common, with up to one-fifth of adults having an eye injury at some point in their lives. Each year, more than 55 million eye injuries are serious enough to restrict activities for at least a day, and nearly 750,000 eye injuries require hospitalization.

An eye injury is classified by its cause:

• Blunt trauma – The most common cause of eye injury, this occurs when the eye is hit by a fist, ball, or other blunt object, without actually cutting the eye. 

• Penetrating trauma – This occurs when the eye is actually pierced (penetrated), perhaps by a knife, sharp stick or piece of metal. 

• Radiation exposure – Eye injury can occur after excess sun exposure (ultraviolet radiation) or exposure through work (such as an X-ray technician or welder) or medical treatment (such as a cancer patient receiving radiation therapy).

• Chemical exposure – This type of injury happens when chemicals enter the eye, usually in an accident, and damage the lens.

Eye injuries that can result in a traumatic cataract are often due to accidents, including:

• Eye injuries occurring in sports such as ice hockey, softball, tennis and baseball

• Car accidents

• Work-related injuries, especially in jobs that require hammering, electrical work or drilling

• Tripping and falling, where something pierces the eye such as a wooden stick or thorn

• Firecrackers exploding too close to the face

• BBs from BB guns firing into the eye

An eye injury can also be the result of a violent attack. 

What are the symptoms of a traumatic cataract?

When the eye has been injured and develops a cataract, symptoms can include:

If the lens is swollen, it can cause the pressure in the eye to rise, but if the eye is very damaged, the intraocular pressure may fall.