Cornea/Refractive Surgery Quiz 6
Scott Burk, MD/PhD | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School
October 11, 1996
Figure 1
Figures 1-2. Anterior segment photographs of 2 different individuals.
Figures 1-2. Anterior segment photographs of 2 different individuals.
Figure 2
Answer: Meesmann's corneal dystrophy.
2. What are the symptoms?
Answer: The symptoms are generally limited to a slight decrease in visual acuity, and mild surface irritation.
3. What is the typical presentation for this condition?
Answer: The disease may be diagnosed in the first years of life clinically as tiny epithelial vesicles generally extending to the limbus, best seen in retroillumination.
4. What is the pathophysiology of this condition?
Answer: The epithelial cells contain a "peculiar substance" of unknown composition.
5. What is the inheritance pattern of this condition?
Answer: Autosomal dominant.
6. What treatment would you recommend?
Answer: Generally no treatment is required, however soft contact lenses may be helpful for symptomatic patients.