Trauma Ocular trauma is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Trauma may occur in industrial settings, during sports activities, or at home. Most patients affected are young males,…

Surgery and Complications CATARACT EXTRACTION AND INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANTATION Cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation involve removal of a cloudy crystalline lens and replacement with an artificial lens. It…

Systemic and Immunologic Conditions Affecting the Cornea WILSON DISEASE (HEPATOLENTICULAR DEGENERATION) Wilson disease is a rare condition that results in abnormal copper deposition throughout the body. Etiology and Epidemiology •…

Corneal Dystrophies ANTERIOR CORNEAL DYSTROPHIES EPITHELIAL BASEMENT MEMBRANE DYSTROPHY (ANTERIOR BASEMENT MEMBRANE DYSTROPHY, MAP-DOT-FINGERPRINT DYSTROPHY, AND COGAN MICROCYSTIC DYSTROPHY) Epithelial basement membrane (EBM) dystrophy is a common epithelial dystrophy that…

Anterior Sclera and Iris EPISCLERITIS Episcleritis is a benign, transient, recurrent, self-limited, and usually nonspecific condition that affects young adults. It rarely progresses to scleritis and should not be considered…

Corneal Degenerations and Deposits INVOLUTIONAL CHANGES CORNEAL ARCUS • Corneal arcus is a very common, bilateral condition that may be either age related (arcus senilis) or associated with hyperlipidemia in…

Ectatic Conditions of the Cornea KERATOCONUS Keratoconus is a fairly common condition characterized by corneal thinning, protrusion, and irregularity. It is almost always bilateral, although the severity of involvement is…

Anterior Segment Developmental Anomalies ANOMALIES OF CORNEAL SIZE AND SHAPE MICROCORNEA Microcornea is an uncommon congenital unilateral or bilateral condition. Inheritance is autosomal dominant or recessive. Signs • Infant horizontal…

Conjunctival Degenerations and Mass Lesions PINGUECULA AND PTERYGIUM Pingueculae and pterygia are extremely common conjunctival/corneal degenerations that typically affect patients living in equatorial regions and patients with a substantial exposure…

Conjunctival Infections and Inflammations BLEPHARITIS AND MEIBOMITIS Chronic blepharitis and meibomitis are very common, bilateral inflammations of the eyelid margins that may cause nonspecific ocular irritation, which is often worse…