Excessive water drinking and cataract formation: A case report

We report a case of a 46-year-old man who developed mature cataract in one eye and nearly mature cataract in his other eye over a 14-month period. No genetic, traumatic, or toxic etiology or intraocular pathology or history of irradiation were present. The patient had intentionally been drinking 15 liters of water a day for 11 months, up until 3 months prior to his admission, and 5 liters a day thereafter, until his admission. During his hospitalization he was found to suffer from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The rest of his medical work-up was found to be normal. We suggest that the huge water overload put on his lens played a role in the premature and rapid cataract formation.