Calcareous degeneration of the eye—an unusual complication of uraemic hyperparathyroidism

A 34-year-old woman developed chronic renal failure at the age of 15 as a result of chronic glomerulonephritis. She was maintained on haemodialysis for 6 years. The patient subsequently developed refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism, with ectopic calcification and reduced bone density. A skeletal survey showed calci-fication of the medical sclerosis type affecting arteries of the feet, hands, forearms and pelvis. Her serum bio-chemistry between 1992 and 1999 showed a persistently high calcium phosphate product ranging between 3.6 and 8.9mmol/l with hypercalcaemia (2.36–2.71mmol/l) and hyperphosphataemia (2.36–3.42mmol/l). Investi-gation showed elevated alkaline phosphatase 1872 IU/l, with a grossly elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) 1759 pg/ml. Total parathyroidectomy was performe