Christmas tree cataract: A rare association with gout!
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: The association between gout and ocular changes has been noted in literature, with evidence suggesting the presence of gout tophi and uric acid crystals in ocular tissue, including the ocular surface and macula. A rare manifestation is the appearance of polychromatic, shining, multi-coloured crystals in the lens nucleus resembling Christmas tree ornaments, known as Christmas tree cataract. While ocular tissue involvement in gout is recognized, this specific association has not been previously documented. This report presents two such cases: a 74-year-old female with a Christmas tree cataract in the right eye and a history of gout, and a 54-year-old male with similar findings in the left eye who was later diagnosed with gout. The report highlights this unique presentation, suggesting that uric acid crystal-induced cataract resembling a Christmas tree may be a possible, though rare, manifestation of gout supported by existing literature.
Institution: Medical University of Lodz
Language: English
Subfield: Nephrology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4410058320