Corneal melting in a chronic alcoholic contact lens wearer.
OBJECTIVE
We report a case of bilateral keratitis in a 43-year-old alcoholic patient who wore soft daily wear contact lenses.


METHODS
After consecutive negative cultures of corneal and conjunctival scrapings and after observing no improvement following antibiotic therapy, the patient was clinically diagnosed with vitamin A deficiency.


RESULTS
After 20 days of treatment with vitamin A, the patient's cornea completely healed. Laboratory results confirmed the clinical diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
When the ophthalmologist is confronted with corneal melting in a known alcoholic or drug-user, it is imperative to consider the possibility of vitamin A deficiency as a possible cause, especially in the contact lens wearer.
Reisin
I
I
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Ashkelon, Israel.
Reisin
L H
LH
Aviel
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D014801:Vitamin A