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Published on: January 12, 2024
Cataract associated with type-1 diabetes mellitus in the pediatric population
M Edward Wilson1, Alex V Levin, Rupal H Trivedi
1Department of Ophthalmology, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. wilsonme@musc.edu <wilsonme@musc.edu>
Purpose:
To report 14 cases (28 eyes) of cataract associated with type-1 diabetes mellitus in young children and adolescents.
Methods:
Retrospective review of the medical records of 14 patients from seven institutions. All patients under the age of 18 years who met the inclusion criteria of type-1 diabetes mellitus and cataract were included.
Results:
Mean age at the time of diabetes diagnosis was 9.8 years (range, 0.5-14 years), and mean age at cataract diagnosis was 11.7 years (range, 5-16 years). Two patients presented with cataracts one month before the diagnosis of diabetes; seven after the diagnosis of diabetes; and in five patients the cataract was found at the time the diabetes was diagnosed by the pediatrician. Nineteen out of 23 operated eyes had a best corrected post operative visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Two patients (4 eyes) developed diabetic retinopathy postoperatively.
Conclusions:
Although cataract formation in type-1 diabetes is rare, it is treatable and potentially sight-saving in young children and adolescents.
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