Bilateral isolated acute cataracts in three newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes mellitus young patients.

PURPOSE: To report the occurrence of acute cataract in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: Three newly diagnosed IDDM children, who presented visual loss at the onset of the disease, were investigated. Accurate metabolic and ophthalmologic examinations were performed. RESULTS: All these cases shared some critical characteristics: male gender, severe ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, elevated level of glycated hemoglobin, and bilateral cataract. Cataracts were so advanced to require surgery in both eyes of all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenesis of acute cataract in IDDM children could be due to the synergism among osmotic hydration of the lens, secondary to hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, and oxidative stress.