title: Linear corneal epithelial keratitis with a horseshoe pattern.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the treatment and follow-up of a linear epithelial keratitis with a horseshoe pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 21-year-old Turkish soldier, who presented with epithelial keratitis with a horseshoe pattern that did not respond to immunosuppressive and multiple anti-microbial treatment, was studied clinically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No microorganism was identified with different stains, cultures, and herpes simplex virus-polymerase chain reaction. The impression cytology revealed prominent polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration at the keratitis line. The keratitis did not respond to different antimicrobial treatment or local and systemic corticosteroids. After a fourth scraping was perfomed deeply with a disc-knife, the lesion healed and did not recur in six months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Linear epitheliitis of cornea with a horseshoe pattern was not found to be associated with any microorganism or systemic disease.
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Uzeyir
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hurmeric
authors.forename: Orkun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muftuoglu
authors.forename: Hurkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kerimoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity