title: In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Characteristics of Crystalline Keratopathy in Patients with Sclerokeratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report in vivo confocal features in a clinical case series of patients with sclerokeratitis presenting as crystalline keratopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five cases of crystalline keratopathy following sclerokeratitis are described. Confocal microscopic images of the cornea were captured in all cases to confirm the diagnosis by evaluating the morphology of the crystals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unilateral and non-progressive peripheral crystalline keratopathy manifested after previous episodes of sclerokeratitis in the involved eye. Confocal microscopy revealed numerous, discrete, hyperreflective, needle-like, shiny crystals in the anterior and posterior stromal layers of the cornea. These deposits were oriented randomly and showed occasional confluence. An extensive ophthalmic and systemic evaluation did not reveal any other contributory factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Crystalline keratopathy, probably resulting from an immune-mediated response, is a possible manifestation of sclerokeratitis. This should be considered during long-term follow-up of such patients and differentiated from infectious crystalline keratopathy.
authors.affiliation: a Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services , Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Noopur
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8022-6656
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: a Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services , Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganger
authors.affiliation: a Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services , Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Shibal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhartiya
authors.affiliation: a Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services , Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: a Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services , Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Radhika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tandon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015423:Scleritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
keywords: Confocal microscopy; corneal crystals; crystalline keratopathy; immune-mediated; sclerokeratitis