Persistent Hyperplastic Tunica Vasculosa Lentis is most commonly described in which patient group?

• A. Young dogs with cataract and intra-lenticular hemorrhage
• B. Older dogs with mature cortical cataracts
• C. Cats with nuclear sclerosis
• D. Horses with equatorial cataracts

Answer: (A)

PHTVL arises when remnants of the fetal vascular structures around the lens fail to regress, leading to persistent tunica vasosa lentis that can invade the lens and cause intra-lenticular changes such as hemorrhage and cataract formation. This pattern is especially common in young dogs presenting with a cataract together with intra-lenticular hemorrhage, matching the typical developmental origin of the lesion. In contrast, mature cortical cataracts in older dogs, nuclear sclerosis in cats, or equatorial cataracts in horses reflect different, non-persistent vascular or degenerative processes, not the juvenile, vascular-related lens changes seen with PHTVL.