Electric Cataract: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A case of electrically induced cataract in both eyes in a 12-year-old boy, after a high-voltage electric shock, is reported. He sustained skin burns on the neck, chest, abdomen, and inner left arm. The cataract developed first in the left eye and later on in the right eye. The child regained normal vision in both eyes after cataract extraction and aphakic correction with spectacles. The need for awareness of the possibility of this complication and screening of all cases of electrical injuries is stressed. The majority of cases respond well to surgery, but final visual acuity will depend on the other ocular damage due to electrical current. The clinical features and pathogenesis of this condition are briefly reviewed.