Snowflake Cataracts

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Question:
What can cause a "snowflake" cataract without having diabetes of any kind?  

Answer:
There are various types of cataracts. The most common type is a nuclear sclerotic cataract which is when the central part of the human lens gets denser and becomes cloudy or opaque. A snowflake type cataract is not very common and is associated with diabetes. It is derived from the fact that the lens looks like white opacities reminiscent of snowflakes. Snowflake cataracts can also occur in non-diabetics too, although very uncommonly. There is no known cause of these types of cataracts.

Answered by: Robert Melendez, MD

Categories: Cataracts

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