Two cases of diabetic zonular cataracts

Abstract

Osmotic changes to the lens are known to occur with dramatic variations in blood sugar. Most often, these changes result in refractive changes, but not opacification within the substance of the lens. We present 2 cases with a shared history of dramatic sudden reductions in blood sugar following previously uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and peculiar zonular ridges in the perinuclear zone of their lenses. This unusual cataract might be the result of the rapid blood sugar reduction. To our knowledge, this form of cataract has not been reported previously.