Aim:To report an unusual cause of blindness in a patient newly diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitis (IDDM). Method:A 19-year-old man presented with classical symptoms of hyperglycaemia. On presentation his visual acuity and ophthalmic examination were normal. He was prescribed twice-daily insulin therapy and six weeks later presented with visual loss. He had only light and dark perception and was noted to have bilateral, dense, mature cataracts.Outcome: Right cataract extraction and intraocular lens implant was performed with restoration of vision. Despite good diabetic control the left cataract did not resolve. Seven months later the patient had left cataract extraction and intraocular lens implant, again with good result. Conclusion:Mature dense cataracts rarely occur and appear not to resolve with control of hyperglycaemia, as in this case, and require surgical treatment.

This study documents the rate of metachronous cancer among patients compliant with a defined colonoscopic screening program and suggests that the risk is highest in patients with a proximal mucinous cancer. RER status does not appear to be a very strong predictive factor, and this study does not support its use as a guide to the frequency of surveillance colonoscopy. More data would be required to determine if RER positivity conferred a relative risk of 3.3 or less.

No abstract