Electricity is extremely dangerous and our bodies react in different ways to major shocks. That was the case of an electrician who suffered a 14,000‑volt electric shock to his left shoulder, ending up with star-shaped cataracts in both eyes, according to medical reports published on January 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Mysterious Star‑shaped Cataracts

A cataract is an opacity in the eye’s lens, a structure that helps focus light. When the lens is clear, light passes through to the retina—where the brain processes images. But when the lens becomes cloudy, vision becomes blurred.

Cataracts typically result from aging, and are so common that over half of Americans develop them or undergo surgery to correct them before age 80.

The 42-year-old male patient underwent cataract extraction surgery four months after the electric shock. He also received an intraocular lens implant to refocus light. His vision improved slightly, but he remained legally blind, able to count only fingers with his left eye. Full vision recovery is unlikely due to damage to the retina and optic nerve

What Caused This Strange Pattern?

Optometrist Dr. Justin Rapp, based in New York and not involved in the patient’s care, told CBS News that the electric current may have altered the chemical balance in the patient’s blood, reducing blood flow to the optic nerves and parts of the retina—evidenced by the cloudy white structures seen in photos around the lower half of the lens.

This chemical imbalance may also have affected the fluid surrounding the lens, contributing to the star-shaped opacity. Cataracts forming snowflake or star-like patterns have been known before, but “never like this,” Rapp said:

“This is a surprisingly ‘perfect’ example of a star‑shaped cataract,” he stated. “The fact that it surrounds the entire 360‑degree outer edge of the lens is definitely remarkable.”

It’s curious that a potentially fatal electric shock resulted in such a unique pattern in his eyes. Despite surgery, the star‑shaped cataracts became iconic.

Reference:

• NBC News/Electrical Burn Causes Star-Shaped Cataracts in Patient’s Eyes. Link.

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