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Case Reports
. 2014 Jan;9(1):101-5.

Bilateral Keratoconus and Corneal Hydrops Associated with Eye Rubbing in a 7-year-old Girl

Mahmoud-Reza Panahi-Bazaz  1 , Farideh Sharifipour  1 , Alireza Moghaddasi  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Bilateral Keratoconus and Corneal Hydrops Associated with Eye Rubbing in a 7-year-old Girl

Mahmoud-Reza Panahi-Bazaz et al. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a young child with bilateral keratoconus in the context of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) who developed bilateral corneal hydrops associated with eye rubbing, and to discuss the pathogenesis and review the pertinent literature.

Case report: A seven-year-old girl with VKC and asymmetric keratoconus developed corneal hydrops due to habitual eye rubbing. Corneal edema subsided within 16 weeks in her right eye and 9 weeks in the left eye with subsequent corneal scarring.

Conclusion: Continuous mechanical trauma, such as eye rubbing, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of keratoconus and subsequent hydrops even in childhood.

Keywords: Children; Corneal Hydrops; Eye Rubbing; Juvenile Keratoconus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The right and left eyes (top and bottom images, respectively) of the child with bilateral keratoconus and hydrops. Note severe hydrops with stromal edema and bullae formation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Right and left eyes (top and bottom images, respectively) of the same subject as in figure 1 after complete resolution of corneal edema 16 and 9 weeks after hydrops; note the scar formation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Computed corneal topography of the right and left eyes (top and bottom images, respectively) shows significant flattening corresponding to corneal scarring.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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