CATARACTS IN GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE-DEHYDROGENASE DEFICIENCY

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency plays an importa nt biochemical role in the metabolism of the lens. Controversies exist in the literature on the possible association between G-6-PD deficien cy and the development of cataracts. The authors present ten patients, aged between infancy and 40 years of age, who were admitted for bilat eral congenital or presenile cataracts. These patients had no ocular o r systemic disease which might have caused their cataract. The only sy stemic finding they had was G-6-PD deficiency. Two other patients amon g the families described suffered from bilateral congenital or preseni le cataracts with no G-6-PD deficiency. This deficiency state does not appear to play a role in the production of their cataracts.