Familial Case of Keratoconus with Corneal Granular Dystrophy in a Family of Iranian Origin

Abstract

Purpose: To report a rare case of keratoconus concurrent with granular corneal dystrophy in a family of Iranian origin. Methods: Case report. Results: Keratoconus combined with granular dystrophy developed bilaterally in a family from Iran. The father, mother and her elder son have both keratoconus and corneal granular dystrophy. Thus, the keratoconus in this family is thought to be of autosomal recessive inheritance. Histologic evaluation showed characteristic features of keratoconus and other corneal dystrophies were excluded. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the second reported case in the literature. The concurrence of keratoconus and granular dystrophy raises the possibility of a genetic linkage of the diseases. Moreover, the diagnosis of keratoconus in patients with granular dystrophy is important because impairment of vision might be the result of keratoconus and could be treated with contact lenses instead of keratoplasty.