J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1997 Jul;38(7):1144-1147.

A Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect in the Contralateral Eye of a Unilateral Cataract

• Hwang JM
• Chang JH

Abstract

A unilated cataract had been reported to cause a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) in the contralateral eye. After extraction of the cataract, the RAPD disappeared in every case. The ability of cataracts to induce an RAPD in the opposite eye is presumed to increased intraocular scatter of light by the cataract, stimulating more peripheral photoreceptors. This observation has not been reported in Korea. The authors have also observed RAPD in the contralateral eye to the unilateral cataract in six patients, disappearing after cataract surgery. Thus, when an RAPD is seen in an eye with a cataract, a visual pathway defect in that eye should definitely be suspected. In addition, it would be better to hold the brain imaging study when an RAPD is noticed in the contralateral eye to the unilateral cataract and to confirm the normal pupillary reflex in both eyes after the cataract surgery.

Keyword

Cataract; Pupillomotor Effectiveness; Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect(RAPD)

MeSH Terms

Cataract*
Humans
Korea
Neuroimaging
Pupil Disorders*
Reflex, Pupillary
Visual Pathways