Accelerated bilateral cataract formation in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

A 21-yr-old Caucasian man developed accelerated irreversible dense bilateral cataracts 4 wk after control of his newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 12 wk after the onset of his symptoms. Although transitory cataracts have been identified in patients with newly diagnosed IDDM, there is no mention in the literature of irreversible cataract formation this soon after diagnosis (see ref. 1).