Cataract Zoo 4: Christmas Tree Cataract

A Christmas Tree Cataract is comprised of refractile needles located in the deep cortex of the lens. They crisscross the lens fibres reflecting light in different colours, looking very much like tinsel on a christmas tree..hence the name. 

The cause is thought it be from the age related breakdown of lens crystallins induced by elevated calcium levels. 

(Morphologic Characteristics and Chemical Composition

of Christmas Tree Cataract

G. Adrien Shun-Shin* Gijs F. J. M. Vrensen,\ Nicholas P. Brown,* Ben Willekens,^

Marianne H. Smeets,^ and Anthony J. Bron*)