Aims: To describe the occurrence of spontaneous cataract absorption in patients with leptospiral uveitis.
Methods: The records of patients with seropositive leptospiral uveitis seen in the uveitis clinic at Aravind Eye Hospital between January 1994 and December 1997 were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: During the 4 years of the study, 394 eyes of 276 patients with seropositive leptospiral uveitis were identified. Of these, 54 eyes (13.7%) of 41 patients (14.9%) had a final visual acuity of 20/40 or worse attributable to cataract formation. Of these 54 eyes, 41 eyes (75.9%) had visually significant cataract on their first visit to the uveitis clinic, and 13 eyes (24.1%) were noted to have cataract 1-6 months after presentation. Spontaneous absorption was observed in 10 eyes (18.5%) of eight patients (19.5%), and occurred from 6 weeks to 18 months, with a median of 5 months, after the onset of cataract. Of 12 035 consecutive, non-leptospiral, non-traumatic, uveitic, control patients seen during the same 4 years of the study, none showed spontaneous cataract absorption.
Conclusion: Spontaneous cataract absorption occurs in a significant number of patients with leptospiral uveitis, and appears to be unique to this form of non-traumatic uveitis.