[Steroid cataracts in children].

From a total of 95 children treated on a long-term basis with corticosteroids as part of a chronic dialyzation programme on account of asthma, juvenile chronic arthritis and leukaemia in 23 (24%) posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC) was diagnosed. The authors consider as the risk factor the amount of corticosteroids in relation to body weight rather than the absolute dose. The danger of PSC develops after one year's administration of 0.3 mg/kg/day Prednisone or its equivalent. This fact is documented by two case-histories indicating the chronology of development of PSC in two-year-old patients, from clear lenses to the most severe affection in the group. The absolute amount of Prednisone was 5-10 mg, i. e. 0.5 mg/kg/day. In one of the two patients the cataract of one eye had to be operated. The patients should have dispensary examinations after one year and subsequently after six-month intervals in case of continuing corticosteroid treatment. An interesting finding was the observation of the incipient stage of PSC--a double dissociation in the area of the posterior "Y" seam.