Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To report the clinical outcomes of patients with recurrent non herpetic and non syphilitic interstitial keratitis, without complaints of hearing problems . Methods: Retrospective review of charts of 13 patients who presented to a cornea specialty practice at Wills Eye Hospital, from December 1997 to June 2004, with recurrent interstitial keratitis of unknown etiology. Data reviewed was patient age, sex, onset of symptoms, work up, number of flare ups and treatment. Results:The mean follow up were 14.5 months (SD=17.7), 4 males and 9 females, mean age of 37.8 years (SD=14.7). Five patients presented with bilateral disease and eight patients presented with unilateral disease . Four patients with bilateral disease developed at least one flare up compared to only one eye of patients with unilateral disease ( P=0.032). Workup revealed immunoglobulin antibodies against Epstein–Barr virus in three patients and Lyme disease in three patients. Conclusions: Patients with bilateral disease have more chances of recurrences. Lyme disease and Epstein–Barr virus infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis, although the etiology is often unknown .The authors suggest careful use of steroids during the treatment of acute disease and flares up, with slow taper to avoid recurrences.
Keywords: cornea: stroma and keratocytes • cornea: clinical science • corticosteroids