Posters

Dermatogenous cataracts: a case series

Poster Details

First Author: A. de-Pablo-Cabrera SPAIN

Co Author(s):    A. Ortueta   B. Sarmiento   C. Navarro-Perea   J. Torres-Pena           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder that has been associated with different ocular manifestations, including cataract formation (typically anterior and posterior subcapsular cataracts), keratoconus or retinal detachment, among others. The pathogenic mechanisms for their development are yet unclear but seem to include oxidative damage, chronic inflammation and corticosteroid therapy.

Setting:

12 de Octubre Universitary Hospital, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.

Methods:

In this paper we describe a case series of 3 young patients (age 17-40) with inflammatory skin disorders (two diagnosed with AD and one with chronic urticaria) that presented bilateral subcapsular cataracts that progressed rapidly. Our objective is to evaluate their clinical characteristics and possible risk factors.

Results:

Two of the patients were diagnosed with AD. One of them also had a history of keratoconus, treated with bilateral penetrating keratoplasty. The other was diagnosed with retinal detachment in one of the eyes after the cataract surgery. Both had a history of discontinuous corticosteroid therapy, during exacerbations. The third patient had been diagnosed with chronic urticaria, and had received short term corticosteroids in only two occasions. All three were found to develop rapidly progressive bilateral cataracts. Two of them progressed to intumescent cataracts, one of them even needing a prophylactic iridotomy.

Conclusions:

The precise pathogenic mechanisms and risk factors of cataract incidence in AD is yet unclear. Corticosteroid therapy is a known risk factor for cataract development, but in AD patients series it has not been demonstrated to be the only cause. We present three patients that had inflammatory skin disorders and developed bilateral cataracts; although not all of them had undergone chronic treatment with corticosteroids. Intumescent cataracts have not been described to be associated with AD; however two of our patients presented them. A possible explanation is that posterior subcapsular cataracts might present a pore and consequent hydration of the nucleus.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE