Cataract associated with type-1 diabetes mellitus in the pediatric population.
OBJECTIVE
To report 14 cases (28 eyes) of cataract associated with type-1 diabetes mellitus in young children and adolescents.


METHODS
Retrospective review of the medical records of 14 patients from seven institutions. All patients under the age of 18 years who met the inclusion criteria of type-1 diabetes mellitus and cataract were included.


RESULTS
Mean age at the time of diabetes diagnosis was 9.8 years (range, 0.5-14 years), and mean age at cataract diagnosis was 11.7 years (range, 5-16 years). Two patients presented with cataracts one month before the diagnosis of diabetes; seven after the diagnosis of diabetes; and in five patients the cataract was found at the time the diabetes was diagnosed by the pediatrician. Nineteen out of 23 operated eyes had a best corrected post operative visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Two patients (4 eyes) developed diabetic retinopathy postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Although cataract formation in type-1 diabetes is rare, it is treatable and potentially sight-saving in young children and adolescents.
Wilson
M Edward
ME
Department of Ophthalmology, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. wilsonme@musc.edu <wilsonme@musc.edu>
Levin
Alex V
AV
Trivedi
Rupal H
RH
Kruger
Stacey J
SJ
Elliott
Laurie A
LA
Ainsworth
John R
JR
Awner
Steven
S
Cruz
Oscar A
OA
Kivlin
Jane
J
Vroman
David T
DT
Young
William O
WO
D000293:Adolescent; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity