Sunflower cataract

What it means

Sunflower cataract (SC) is a type of anterior subcapsular cataract almost only seen in Wilson disease, an autosomal-recessive condition with a defect in the metabolism of copper leading to accumulation of copper in the liver and basal ganglia. SC consists of a thin, centralized opacification that is located directly under the anterior capsule and encompasses between one-third and one-half of the anterior lens pole surface area. In all cases, the central opacification is surrounded by additional, secondary opacifications arranged in ray-like structures around it. This pattern is said to resemble a sunflower, with a large central disk surrounded by petals.

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category