Eye Protection:Deep Stromal Involvement in Dimmer's Nummular Keratitis

Mario J. Valenton
NIOSH Education and Information Division

AUTHOR ABSTRACT

During a two-year period, 34 Filipino patients with disk-shaped opacities of the cornea were studied. All were rice field workers who usually had a history of ocular trauma while working in the fields. The keratitis was usually unilateral and was characterized by multiple discoid opacities with subepithelial infiltrates resembling the type of nummular keratitis described by Dimmer in 1905. In Filipinos, however, facet formation in the corneal lesions was not a prominent feature. Furthermore , in 13 patients the centrally located corneal opacities involved the deep stroma and coalesced forming a typical central disciform keratitis similar to herpes simplex disciform keratitis.

A trial of topical corticosteroids in 68% of the patients resulted in the relief of irritation and the lessening of the corneal edema and infiltration. No patient was aggravated by corticosteroid application.

JOURNAL AND NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE ID#

JOURNAL: Am J Ophthalmol. 1974; 78(6): 897-902.

Note: American Journal of Ophthalmology.

NLOM ID#: 75070989

Publication #: 75070989

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