Erosion dystrophique récidivante de l’épithélium cornéen

Abstract

In the majority of cases there exists, at the beginning of the recurrent dystrophic erosion of the corneal epithelium, a slight superficial trauma. There are, neverthless, also spontaneous forms, which are more often bilateral, hereditary forms and secondary forms with more generalized corneal dystrophies. (2) Between the trauma and the appearance of the recurrent erosion there is always a latency period of variable duration. (3) Women are more often affected than men. The condition usually is observed between 25 and 40 years of age. (4) The epithelial erosions reoccur at irregular intervals nearly always in the morning when the eyes are opened. They are always localized below the pupillary area and not necessarily at the site of the trauma. (5) Between two recurrences, there persists a latent epithelial dystrophy, which is characterized by subjective symptoms (pricking pain in the morning at the opening of the eyes) and by objective signs (grey epithelial spots or epithelial microbullae below the pupillary area near the vertical meridian). (6) At the light and electron microscope one sees alterations of the basal epithelial cells, intra epithelial cysts, ruptures of the basement membrane and disappearance of the hemidesmosomes. (7) The disorder is a true epithelial dystrophy, the traumatism being only an occasional cause. (8) The treatment is discussed.