CATARACT CAUSED BY DIET PILLS

Case analysis: To show how the use of diet pills by a young patient- without any ocular problems- can lead to the development of cataract in his both eyes in a small period of time.

Ophthalmological department of Goethe University Clinic in Frankfurt am Main.

A 25 year old patient purchased diet pills during online shopping while fighting his obesity with diet and training. About a year later he noticed that his vision was decreased an came in our clinic for further investigation. He had a BDCVA of 0.3 (OD: -0,75/-0,25/27°=0,3, OS: -2,50/-0,25/97°=0,3) in both eyes. Slit lamp examination showed cataract formation despite his young age. Retinal examination gave no further abnormalities.

During the medical history examination our patient revealed that he purchased a drug used for weight loss and this kind of  drug could be bought only online. The main substance of the pills was the 2,4 Dinitrophenol. Because of this detail, we suggested that he had a toxic cataract development dure to this drug/poison. 

The toxicity of 2,4 Dinitrophenol was initially described in 1935. At present time, is the first description of a phenomenon of cataract development due to 2,4 Dinitrophenol in modern years. After the proven toxicity and cataract induction in the 30s there was no further record of something similar. Ophthalmologists over the world must be alerted if cataract in young patients and without any other risk factor is detected.