Cystinosis, cataract surgery, and corneal erosions

A 21-year-old man presented with severe corneal cystinosis and steroid-rela ted cataract bilaterally. Rather than combined cataract surgery and penetra ting keratoplasty, the patient had uneventful phacoemulsification and intra ocular lens implantation after which visual acuity improved to 6/6 in both eyes. The outcome indicates that conventional phacoemulsification is suffic ient in these cases. A guarded prognosis is advised in patients with cystin osis having cataract surgery as the fundal view is often impaired and there may be associated maculopathy. (C) 2001 ASCRS and ESCPS.