Octreotide as a treatment for uveitic cystoid macular edema.

extended period, whereas the peripheral optic may be protected by the iris. In the present case, the lesions characteristic of snowflake degeneration were restricted to the central 2 mm of the lens optic in the dry state. This is the smallest area we have ever observed and may be related to the fact that the patient’s pupils were relatively constricted as noted on the examination before and after dilation. This fact presumably supports the hypothesis that snowflake changes are facilitated by UV light. For the first time, to our knowledge, a lens explanted because of snowflake degeneration was analyzed in the dry and hydrated states. The snowflake lesions per se are dry lesions and should be differentiated from glistenings. Glistenings are fluid-filled vacuoles and were largely described in association with hydrophobic acrylic lenses but can also be associated with other materials, including PMMA. On hydration of the explanted lens described herein, we did not observe the formation of small vacuoles throughout the lens optic, as seen with glistenings. An unusual amount of water was collected within the central 4 mm of the lens optic, where multiple linear cracks were present. These cracks were not evident under light microscopy in the dry state. They may represent the initial injury before the typical snowflake lesions are seen or they may be secondary to the initial presence of the more central snowflake lesions. In any case, the clinical significance of snowflake degeneration may depend on the amount of water collected within the area of cracks.