Which etiologic category lists retinal degeneration as a cataract cause?

Which etiologic category lists retinal degeneration as a cataract cause?

• A. Retinal degeneration
• B. Trauma
• C. Metabolic
• D. Nutritional

Answer: (A)

The concept here is that some cataracts arise as a consequence of another eye disease, specifically retinal degeneration, rather than from direct injury or systemic factors. When the retina degenerates—as in hereditary retinal dystrophies like retinitis pigmentosa—the altered ocular environment and metabolic changes can lead to lens opacities over time. This makes cataracts that occur in the setting of retinal degeneration fitting best under the category of retinal degeneration. In contrast, trauma refers to cataracts caused by an injury to the eye, metabolic covers cataracts that come from systemic metabolic problems (like diabetes affecting the lens), and nutritional covers deficiencies that affect lens nutrition. So retinal degeneration is the most appropriate category because it directly denotes the retinal disease driving the cataract formation, rather than a lens-only injury or systemic factor.

The concept here is that some cataracts arise as a consequence of another eye disease, specifically retinal degeneration, rather than from direct injury or systemic factors. When the retina degenerates—as in hereditary retinal dystrophies like retinitis pigmentosa—the altered ocular environment and metabolic changes can lead to lens opacities over time. This makes cataracts that occur in the setting of retinal degeneration fitting best under the category of retinal degeneration.

In contrast, trauma refers to cataracts caused by an injury to the eye, metabolic covers cataracts that come from systemic metabolic problems (like diabetes affecting the lens), and nutritional covers deficiencies that affect lens nutrition. So retinal degeneration is the most appropriate category because it directly denotes the retinal disease driving the cataract formation, rather than a lens-only injury or systemic factor.