Discrete nuclear sclerosis in young patients with myopia.

OBJECTIVE

To review a series of young patients with myopia who had a visually disabling cataract.

DESIGN

A retrospective review of 12 consecutive patients who had a visually disabling cataract and who were examined at the Cornea Service of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 44 years (range, 34-54 years). The mean best-corrected visual acuity of the patients was 20/50, and the ocular history of the patients included a progressive decrease in vision. Six patients experienced disabling monocular polyopia. Their presumed diagnoses ranged from keratoconus to myopic degeneration. All of the patients noted resolution of their symptoms after cataract extraction.

CONCLUSIONS

These patients are a select group that tends not to follow the established associations between visually significant lens opacities, age, and myopia. Cataract extraction is therapeutic, and prompt diagnosis can obviate unnecessary testing and repeated office visits.