Transient, profound cataract associated with intracameral 5-fluorouracil.
OBJECTIVE
To report a transient cataract after bleb needling and subconjunctival injection of 5-fluorouracil.


METHODS
Observational case report.


METHODS
A 51-year-old man had an encapsulated bleb after filtering surgery. The bleb was needled, and 5 mg of 5-fluorouracil was injected adjacent to the bleb.


RESULTS
Within 5 minutes, vision fell to finger counting at 1 foot owing to anterior lens capsule opacification. The next day, acuity and lens clarity had returned to their preneedling status. Best-corrected acuity 7 months later was 20/15.


CONCLUSIONS
Entry of 5-fluorouracil into the anterior chamber after bleb needling can cause transient lens opacification. Recently, intracameral 5-fluorouracil was reported as a new treatment for epithelial ingrowth. Given the transient cataract observed in this case, the use of 5-fluorouracil for epithelial ingrowth should be considered with caution for phakic patients.
Libre
Peter E
PE
Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. plibre@optonline.net
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018463:Filtering Surgery; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil