Sunflower cataracts

The body needs the metal copper for some of its functions such as assisting enzymes carry out their task of facilitating biochemical reactions.

In the rare inherited disease – Wilson’s disease – named after a doctor who described it, copper accumulates abnormally mainly in the liver and brain. Because of excess copper, the lens of the eye can look like a sunflower – sunflower cataracts. A cararact is cloudiness of the eye’s lens which can result from numerous causes.

Treatment for Wilson’s disease includes avoiding foods with copper, using medications which prevent absorption of dietary copper or bind to copper within the body and liver transplantation.

Reference:

Goyal V, Tripathi M. Sunflower cataract in Wilson's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 2000 69(1): 133. Go to reference

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Sunflowers, eye 

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Image from Wikimedia Commons