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health advisory Hospital Doctor Yu 2007-11-8 19:09:43

I know up to 6% of people stuck by lightning develop cataracts, but I'm trying to figure out the pathophysiology. Any ideas?

Answers:

That's a new one to me, but then again, I've never met anyone struck by lightning.

But I do know something about cataracts :-)

Generally, cataracts develop naturally as we get older. The lens is continuously getting harder as we age, and eventually it can form what looks like deposits in it over time that blur vision and even turn things a slight yellow color.

But this obviously isn't how lightning victims get cataracts. The explanation that seems to fit best to me is what we call a traumatic cataract. We generally see these after an eye surgery. If, during surgery, the doctor happens to hit the lens with an instrument, any instrument, and just barely touching it will do, the lens will form a nearly instant cataract (or very quickly progressing cataract at least). This can also happen with blunt trauma to the eye. The lens is very delicate when it comes to contact with anything, and traumatic cataracts will usually follow. This could also theoretically be caused by a large electric current running through the eye I imagine.

That's about the best I've got anyway. I know a decent amount about cataracts, but like I said, I've never met anyone that's been hit by lightning. Hopefully that helps though.

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I WAS NOT HIT BY LIGHTNING .

I HAD BOTH OF MY EYES DONE.

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Well turtle: if lightning strikes it dont cause any thing just

an noise .But I wouldn't stand under a tree during a electrical

storm which it will damage objects in veiw .What can cause

cataracts? flash from it could or why very dangerous too could

loose sight

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Not quite sure myself but this article is the source of this data .

Sorry I couldn't access it myself.

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