Transient posterior subcapsular lens opacities in diabetes mellitus

In three patients with transient cataracts the lenticular opacities were feathery in nature, and posterior subcapsular in location. They appeared to emanate from a dense central posterior subcapsular plaque. These opacities were examined with the slit lamp and documented photographically. The onset of cataract was abrupt in all three patients, and resolved over a three- to 36-day period. Two patients had bilateral reversible cataracts, and in one of these patients the lenticular opacities were recurrent. Two of the patients had been taking oral corticosteroids. Temporary cataracts have been previously reported in patients with poor diabetic control. Diabetes mellitus had been diagnosed in only one of our patients. Three-hour glucose tolerance testing of the other two patients disclosed mildly increased one-hour blood glucose levels. We believe that reversible lens opacities may occur in subclinical diabetes mellitus with normal or only mildly increased blood glucose levels.