[Incidence of cataract and retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis]

The incidence of cataract and retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis is reported. The subjects suffered from moderate or severe atopic dermatitis. Seventy-five patients (32 male and 43 female, age: 7-46, mean 19.7 years) had their initial examination at the Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University Hospital, from 1981 to 1990. Cataract was found in 13 (6 male and 7 female) out of the 75 patients (17.3%). All cases except one already had cataract at the initial visit. The average age was 21.2 years. Nine had bilateral cataracts and four had unilateral. Type of cataract in 22 eyes was anterior subcapsular cataract (n = 3), posterior subcapsular cataract (n = 8), anterior and posterior cataract (n = 9), and mature cataract (n = 2). Retinal detachment was associated in six (8.0%) out of the 75 patients. Four were male and two were female. The average age was 21.6 years (range 18-29). Three cases were bilateral and 3 unilateral. Five of nine eyes with retinal detachment had no history of intraocular surgery. Four of the nine had a history of cataract extraction (3 eyes) and trabeculectomy (1 eye). Tears were observed in 5 out of 9 eyes (small tears in the peripheral retina (n = 1), oral dialysis (n = 3), and breaks at the pars plicata (n = 1). Tears could not be observed in four eyes (44%). Detachment of the pars plana was found in seven eyes. Retinal detachment was always associated with cataract.