Cataract ou, od, os means what?

Written by Li Zhen Dong

Ophthalmology

Updated on January 20, 2025

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OU, OD, and OS are common descriptions in ophthalmology. OU represents both eyes, OD represents the right eye, and OS represents the left eye. These are abbreviations. For example, visual acuity for both eyes is denoted as OU, visual acuity for the left eye as OS, and visual acuity for the right eye as OD. These terms are typically used in medical records, not only to describe conditions like cataracts. For instance, the condition of cataracts in both eyes would be described as OU: OD 0.1, OS 0.3.

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Written by Zheng Xin

Ophthalmology

34sec

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Difference between fundus diseases and cataracts

Diseases of the eye fundus mainly refer to diseases of the choroid and retina in the posterior segment of the eye, while cataracts are diseases of the lens in the middle segment of the eye, so there is a difference in their locations. Clinically, eye fundus diseases manifest as declining vision and obstructed vision, while cataracts manifest as blurred vision, foggy vision, or seeing halos around lights. Eye fundus diseases can be treated conservatively or surgically, whereas cataracts require surgical treatment.

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Written by Tao Yuan

Ophthalmology

48sec

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Can cataracts be treated with medication in the early stages?

Cataract is a common eye disease and is currently the leading cause of blindness. It often occurs in middle-aged and elderly people, patients with high myopia, and those with chronic inflammation in the eyes. Cataracts can cause a decline in vision, severely reducing the quality of life. In the early stages of cataract formation, it is possible to treat with medication, such as applying eye drops like benzylarginine and pinoxacin, which can delay and prevent the worsening of cataracts. However, it cannot reverse the vision decline caused by cataracts. If the vision decline caused by cataracts has severely affected normal life, work, and study, surgical treatment should be considered promptly. Only by removing the cloudy lens inside the eyeball and replacing it with a transparent artificial lens can vision be restored.

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Written by Hu Shu Fang

Ophthalmology

41sec

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Does cataract cause headache?

The main symptoms of cataracts include a decline in vision, with both near and far objects appearing unclear, and blurry vision. There is no significant eye pain or headaches, nor does it cause redness in the eyes. If headaches do occur, it is important to investigate the cause, such as checking if there is an increase in eye pressure or if the headache is caused by glaucoma, and to treat according to the specific cause. However, in the later stages or over-mature stage of cataracts, the lens may dissolve, which can potentially lead to phacolytic glaucoma, but this condition is very rare.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng

Ophthalmology

45sec

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What department should I go to for cataracts?

The department for cataract consultations is ophthalmology. Various factors such as aging, genetics, local nutritional disorders, immune and metabolic abnormalities, trauma, poisoning, radiation, etc., can cause metabolic disturbances in the lens, leading to the denaturation of lens proteins and resulting in opacity, known as cataracts. At this time, light is obstructed by the cloudy lens and cannot be projected onto the retina, causing blurred vision. This condition is commonly seen in individuals over forty years old, and the incidence increases with age. The disease can also be divided into congenital cataracts and acquired cataracts.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng

Ophthalmology

48sec

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How is a cataract formed?

Inside the eyeball, there is a relatively important transparent tissue called the lens. Clinically, clouding of the lens is referred to as cataracts. Many factors, such as aging, genetics, metabolic abnormalities like diabetes, trauma, radiation, poisoning, and local nutritional disorders, can lead to damage to the capsule of the lens, increasing its permeability and losing its barrier function, or causing metabolic disturbances in the lens. This can cause the proteins in the lens to denature, leading to cloudiness of the lens, which is known as cataracts. Under a slit lamp microscope, varying degrees of cloudiness in the lens can be observed.