Bilateral Electric Shock Induced Cataract

Abstract

injury may cause various ocular complications. The severity of the complications depends on the voltage and site of passage of electric shock. The probability of ocular involvement rises more if the injury occurs at the scalp or face. Electric shock induced cataract is usually bilateral. The exact pathogenesis of cataract development is unknown. Direct coagulation of lens proteins and the osmotic changes following damage to the subcapsular epithelium are thought to be responsible. Other ocular complications like conjunctival hyperemia, interstitial corneal opacities, uveitis, miosis, spasm of accommodation etc may occur. Some rare complications like optic nerve coagulation, necrosis of retina, choroid and optic atrophy have been reported. Macular oedema may lead to the development of macular cysts or holes. Paresis of extraocular muscles have been frequently observed. We report two rare cases of high voltage electric injury in two young male patients resulting in bilateral cataract. No other ocular complications were encounterd. Entry and exit wounds were present in both the patients. Fundoscopy, Ultrasound B – scan and OCT were done to evaluate the posterior segment which were normal . Patients underwent manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) with posterior chamber intra ocular lens implantation with good post operative visual recovery. The study concludes that the degree of lenticular change seems to bear no definite relation to the strength of the current and with proper evaluation of posterior segment we can predict the post operative visual recovery.