Cataract and Cognitive Impairment: A Review of the Literature

Joanna M Jefferis (1) , Urs P Mosimann (2) , Michael P Clarke (3)

1 Dept of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne
2 Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
3 ION - Institute of Neuroscience [Newcastle]

Acquired cataract and cognitive impairment are both common age related problems, and ophthalmologists are increasingly likely to encounter patients who have both. Dementia types which display early visuo-perceptual impairment may present first to ophthalmology services. When these patients have coexisting cataract it may be difficult to distinguish visual complaints due to cataract from those due to dementia. The interaction between visual impairment due to cataract, and neurodegenerative disorders affecting the central visual pathways, is not fully understood. Visual impairment due to cataract may stress impaired attentional mechanisms, and cataract extraction may improve cognitive performance in some patients with early cognitive impairment; however the benefits of cataract surgery in established dementia are less clear. Here we review the literature on this subject and consider the implications for practice.

Mots clés: Optics and Refraction; Degeneration; Visual perception

Joanna M Jefferis, Urs P Mosimann, Michael P Clarke. Cataract and Cognitive Impairment: A Review of the Literature. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2010, 95 (1), pp.17. ⟨10.1136/bjo.2009.165902⟩. ⟨hal-00573095⟩