Peacock feather-like desiccation cataract

Desiccation cataract is a common complication of posterior vitrectomy. Indeed, the contact between internal gas tamponade and posterior crystalloid can cause early posterior subcapsular cataract occurring in the twenty-four hours, also known as fern leaf-like cataract. It is caused by dehydration of the posterior layers of the crystalline lens or by a block in the metabolic exchanges from both sides of the posterior crystalloid. Histological examination shows vacuoles or feather-like linear opacities in the posterior subcapsular cortex, in most cases regressive. However, long-acting gases induce permanent clouding of cristalline lens, which is often very adherent and whose dissection during phakoexeresis may be complicated by posterior capsular rupture. We report the case of a 54 year old patient undergoing vitrectomy for retinal detachment in the right eye associated with cryopexy of the retinal dehiscence and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tamponade. One day postoperatively examination showed peacock feathers-like posterior subcapsular cataract.