Ocular toxocariasis can cause distinctive cataracts

Ocular toxocariasis can cause cataract with opacity similar to granuloma, claim recent findings published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Dr Seong Joon Ahn et al, Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National Univeristy College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea, conducted a retrospective, observational case series on 83 patients presenting with ocular toxocariasis.

Ocular toxocariasis was clinically diagnosed based on retinal granuloma with or without ocular inflammation and positive results in serum antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The team collected demographic and ocular examination data for all patients showing atypical cataract features. Each cataract was documented with anterior segment photography.

A total of 8.4% of the patients had an atypical cataract in the eye with ocular toxocariasis only. All patients presented with small, round, white lens opacities resembling retinal granulomas.

The granulomas were mainly located in the lens midperiphery and in the subcapsular level. The lens opacity could migrate, but only did so in one patient.

For the abstract please click here.