Behavioral disturbance following intraocular lens implantation

A 26-year-old man with mycosis fungoides and dense bilateral cataracts underwent cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. The first day postoperatively, the patient attained 20/100 visual acuity with the intraocular implant, without additional visual corrections. On seeing himself in the mirror for the first time in several months, thereby becoming aware of his distorted facial features and unsightly skin, he became transiently depressed. Simple reassurance and emotional support helped ameliorate his symptoms. Previous reports of behavioral disturbances following cataract extraction have emphasized the role of sensory deprivation in triggering aberrant behavior patterns. In this reported case, the rapid visual rehabilitation afforded by an intraocular lens implant resulted in a transiently depressed state in a patient with severe eczematous mycosis fungoides.