Cataract induced by eyelid cosmetic treatment with intense focused ultrasound

A 45-year-old woman, immediately after receiving a cosmetic treatment with intense focused ultrasound (IFUS) over the eyelids, developed an acute, progressive, severe cataract with a unique shape as an adverse effect of the IFUS esthetic treatment. At examination of the lens in the right eye, 4 drop-like dense lens opacities aligned consecutively in a horizontal line together with a posterior capsular opacity in a stellate-shaped fashion. It rapidly progressed into a dense posterior cataract, leaving the patient with an uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), from 20/20 prior to the event, to 20/160 4 days later. Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were performed, restoring her UDVA to 20/25. Cosmetic and ophthalmic healthcare providers should be aware of the potentially damaging effect of IFUS.