Polychromasia capsulare (multicolored capsule): report of three families

To describe the familial occurrence of a peripheral ring of anterior lens capsule discoloration and iridescence in three families.

Clinical ophthalmologic examination with visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and dilated ophthalmoscopy. Pedigree construction and evaluation for possible mode(s) of inheritance.

In family 1, 25 members from four generations were available for examination. Twelve had identical findings consisting of a peripheral circumferential polychromatic band of anterior lens capsule. The band was predominantly iridescent green but exhibited a rainbow of colors on direct illumination with the slit-lamp beam. There were affected individuals in all four generations. The proband, one of her sons, and her granddaughter had no clinical, serologic, or other laboratory evidence of Wilson's disease, hypercupremia, or myotonic dystrophy. In family 2, three individuals in three generations were similarly affected. In family 3, a man and his son and daughter had identical peripheral lens capsule discoloration.

Polychromasia capsulare is a rare benign autosomal dominant ocular trait that does not appear to be associated with ophthalmologic or systemic disease. The occurrence in consecutive generations and the presence of male-to-male transmission are consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance.