|
Overview :
Some patient's with Wilson's disease will have copper
deposition (chalcosis) in the lens. This is termed a "sunflower"
cataract because of its appearance when fully developed. The copper deposits
are in and beneath the lens capsule, usually on the anterior surface.
Exam: slit-lamp microscopy
Clinical features of a sunflower cataract:
(1) There is a
disc-shaped polychromatic opacity in the central lens.
(2) The lesion
has "spokes" that radiate towards the periphery of the lens.
(3) The
deposits usually do not affect vision.
(4) The
deposits disappear after chelation therapy (D-penicillamine, other) to remove
copper.
|