What Is Cataract? Meaning, Snowflake, Sunflower & Christmas Tree Types, and ICD-10 Explained
What is cataract, what do snowflake, sunflower and Christmas tree cataracts mean, and what is a cataract ICD-10 code? This short guide from Save Sight Centre, Delhi, answers those three questions in plain language, reviewed by Dr. Rajeev Jain. Quick Answer A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which makes vision blurry, dim or hazy. Most cataracts come with age. A few rare patterns, called snowflake, sunflower and Christmas tree cataracts, are named for how they look and are often linked to a health condition elsewhere in the body. “ICD-10” is simply the code your doctor uses to record a cataract diagnosis on medical and insurance papers. Key Takeaways A cataract is a cloudy lens. It is not a film on the surface of the eye. Snowflake, sunflower and Christmas tree cataracts are rare patterns, and they are not caused by the weather or by anything you ate. ICD-10 codes classify the cataract type, and some versions also record which eye. Only an eye examination can tell ...
