posterior subcapsular cataract
- noun
- /ˌpoʊstɪˈɒrɪər sʌbˈkæpsjʊlər ˈkætəˌrækt/
- Specialized
:
catarata subcapsular posterior
- People with a posterior subcapsular cataract often find it difficult to read in bright light.
Examples
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The doctor explained that a posterior subcapsular cataract can lead to significant vision problems, especially in sunlight.
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She was diagnosed with a posterior subcapsular cataract, which affected her ability to see clearly while driving.
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Typically, acuity is severely affected only in the later stages, when macular changes and glare from posterior subcapsular cataracts may cause moderate to severe vision loss.
Academic text (2004) -
Intranasal corticosteroids can be administered safely for prolonged periods of time without increasing the risk of ocular hypertension or posterior subcapsular cataract formation.
Academic text (1998)
Surface Forms
Morphology
posterior + subcapsular + cataract
The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'cataract' (lens clouding) modified by anatomical location descriptors 'posterior' (rear) and 'subcapsular' (beneath a capsule) yields the meaning 'a cataract forming beneath the lens capsule at the back'. Although medical, the meaning follows straightforward morphological composition and similar descriptive patterns occur across languages, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer the intended sense.
Etymology
Posterior subcapsular cataract is a medical name that tells where the problem is: posterior means at the 'back' of the lens, subcapsular means just 'under' the thin capsule or cover, and cataract means 'clouding' of the lens. Because this cloud sits at the back and under the cover, it often blocks light when you read or are in bright sun, so the name explains why it makes 'seeing' difficult.
