Christmas tree cataract

Abstract

An 83-year-old woman with a history of mild, open-angle glaucoma was referred to the Hamilton Eye Institute for evaluation of cataracts in both eyes. Her glaucoma was well controlled with latanoprost in both eyes. On examination, her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 in each eye. She was found to have a combination of nuclear sclerotic and cortical cataract in her right eye and a Christmas tree cataract in her left eye. Because of the association between myotonic dystrophy and Christmas tree cataracts, a thorough review of systems was performed and was negative for generalized weakness, muscle wasting, hypersomnia, difficulty concentrating, difficulty with muscle relaxation, and significant cardiac history. She was scheduled for cataract extraction in both eyes. She has since undergone uncomplicated cataract extraction in her left eye, with a final best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20. She has yet to undergo cataract extraction in her right eye.