title: Band-shaped and whorled microcystic dystrophy of the corneal epithelium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical, histopathologic, and electron microscopic features of band-shaped and whorled microcystic corneal epithelial dystrophy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two interventional case reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients, two eyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The involved area of corneal epithelium was scraped from each cornea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathologic examination showed microscopic vacuoles in the epithelial cytoplasm in both cases. Electron microscopic examination revealed mainly empty cytoplasmic vacuoles with scant nonspecific osmophilic material. The process recurred clinically in one patient. Changes in corneal topography are documented in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical findings and pathologic studies seem nearly identical to those in the original report. No pattern of systemic disorder or medication use was found. The cause of this condition remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Grossniklaus
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Palay
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000473:pathology*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014792:Visual Acuity