Q11 - Corneal Dystrophies And Degenerations

Question 1

Diseases included

Answer 1

Calcification band keratopathy, peripheral furrow keratitis, corneal dystrophies (epithelial, stromal, endothelial)

Question 2

Calcific band keratopathy

Answer 2

Calcium deposits on cornea, after years of chronic inflamm of anterior chamber or in juvenile polyarthritis.

• > deposits in bowmans layer + transverse zone of opacification (impairs vision).
• treatment: chelation with sodium EDTA

Question 3

Peripheral furrow keratitis

Answer 3

• RA or Vit A deficiency -> thinning and melting of peripheral cornea, may cause perforation
• Frequent cause of blindness.

Question 4

Corneal dystrophies

Answer 4

Hereditary corneal metabolic dysfunctions leading to bilateral opacification:
A) epithelial dystrophy -> Cogan (epithelial BM), Messman (epithelium) or Reisova dystrophy (Bowmans layer)
B) stromal dystrophy -> granular (hyaline), lattice (amyloid) or macular dystrophies.
C) endothelial dystrophy -> Fuchs dystrophy (warts of descemets, stromal edema)
- treated with corneal transplant