Atlas of Ophthalmology

Electrically-induced Cataract and Optic Nerve Alteration (Colour Photography Posterior Pole, VEP)

Lens -> Trauma (Injury)
Patient: 25 years of age, male, BCVA 0.4 at OD, 0.2 at OS. General Medical History: major electrical injury (3000 V) in July 2013 with skin burns on the face, neck, hand, and inner left arm. Ocular Medical History: 12 months later development of cataract in both eyes with decreased visual acuity. Purpose: to present electrically induced cataract in both eyes induced by high voltage current. Methods: Colour Photography Posterior Pole, VEP. Findings: Colour Photography Posterior Pole: cataractous changes with characteristic anterior subcapsular opacifications. VEP: decreased amplitude in OS, regular amplitude in OD. Discussion: Saffle et al. reviewed patients suffering major electrical injuries. Patients who suffered cataracts were injured with high (greater than 1,000-v) voltage current. All patients suffered true 'entrance and exit' wounds. Cataracts first presented as decreased visual acuity 1 to 12 months postinjury. Electrical cataracts remain a serious potential complication of electrical injury. Literature: (1) Saffle JR, Crandall A, Warden GD. Cataracts: a long-term complication of electrical injury. J Trauma. 1985 Jan;25(1):17-21. (2) Reddy SC. Electric cataract: a case report and review of the literature. Eur J Ophthalmol. 1999 Apr-Jun;9(2):134-8.

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