Xylene keratopathy: a case report and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of direct contact xylene-related vacuolar keratopathy.


METHODS
Interventional case report and review of the literature.


RESULTS
Xylene keratopathy is a distinct clinical entity characterized by significantly decreased visual acuity, increased corneal thickness, and the presence of corneal epithelial and stromal vacuoles on a diffuse gray stromal background. The vacuoles are diffusely scattered, subtle, and clear on slit-lamp examination. Occasionally, white, round, denser areas can also be observed. Xylene keratopathy disappeared gradually over 4 weeks with topical steroid treatment and did not cause permanent sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
Xylene exposure should be considered as possible etiologic agent of vacuolar epithelial and stromal keratopathy. Exposure may occur directly as a splash of liquid or through its vapors.
Trujillo
Fernando
F
Cornea Service, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. trujillof@uthscsa.edu
Dang
Diemngoc
D
Starck
Tomy
T
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000139:chemically induced; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014992:Xylenes / Q000009:adverse effects*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014992:Xylenes; C009935:prednisolone acetate; D011239:Prednisolone