Risperidone-induced cataract in a young female.

A 19-year-old female, with no preexisting comorbidities, presented with complaints of gradually progressive diminution of vision in both eyes for last 1 year. The patient had a traumatic brain injury 2 years back after which she developed schizophrenia-like psychosis (persecutory delusions and hallucinations) and was prescribed risperidone 2 mg/day. There was no family history of childhood cataract.

On examination, best corrected visual acuity in both the eyes was 20/200. The cornea was clear and the lens had posterior subcapsular cataract and cortical cataract [Fig. 1]. Posterior segment examination was normal. The patient was advised to undergo cataract surgery.

Figure 1

Intraoperative photo of the left eye showing posterior subcapsular and cortical cataract

Cataract has been associated with long-term usage of corticosteroids, phenothiazines, antipsychotics, cytostatic drugs, deferoxamine, phenytoin, isotretinoin, oral contraceptives, allopurinol, antimalarial drugs, diazepam, tetracyclines and sulfonamides.[1]

To our knowledge, this is the third case showing a potential association between cataracts and risperidone since our patient had a lack of risk factors including no metabolic abnormalities, a normal baseline eye examination (done elsewhere) and no prior history of cataract.[23]

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Conflicts of interest

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