Pathology of the Lens in Down's syndrome

A pathological study of the lenses of 21 patients with Down's syndrome disclosed no distinctive abnormalities of the lens capsule, as had been reported previously. Five patients, 15 years of age or older, had focal cortical changes consistent with the characteristic flake-like opacities seen in patients with Down's syndrome after the first decade of life. Three patients with more extensive, visually significant lens opacities showed nonspecific cataractous changes. No abnormalities other than pathological artifacts were seen in the lenses of patients younger than 15 years of age.