Histopathological changes of cornea in long-term sympathetic ophthalmitis.
OBJECTIVE
To report the histopathological changes occurring in the cornea in sympathetic ophthalmitis.


METHODS
Observational case series of 3 patients with sympathetic ophthalmitis who were treated with penetrating keratoplasty. We report the histopathological features of the cornea.


RESULTS
In all 3 cases, the epithelium was edematous and bullous with extensive loss of the Bowman layer and calcification of the superficial stroma in all the 3 eyes. The deep stroma was unremarkable in appearance. Descemet membrane showed thickening in 2 of the corneas with nodular excrescences and folds noted in 1 of the specimens. The endothelium was attenuated with some residual cells containing pigment granules in 1 case.


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial loss and development of bullous keratopathy associated with band keratopathy are predominate histopathological features of the cornea. These changes are nonspecific and reflect a chronic anterior uveitis.
Shankar
V
V
Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom. vashankar73@yahoo.co.uk
Roberts
F
F
Ramaesh
K
K
D050541:Bowman Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D009879:Ophthalmia, Sympathetic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult