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Published on: November 12, 2015
Xylene keratopathy: a case report and review of the literature
Fernando Trujillo1, Diemngoc Dang, Tomy Starck
1Cornea Service, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. trujillof@uthscsa.edu
Purpose:
To report a case of direct contact xylene-related vacuolar keratopathy.
Methods:
Interventional case report and review of the literature.
Results:
Xylene keratopathy is a distinct clinical entity characterized by significantly decreased visual acuity, increased corneal thickness, and the presence of corneal epithelial and stromal vacuoles on a diffuse gray stromal background. The vacuoles are diffusely scattered, subtle, and clear on slit-lamp examination. Occasionally, white, round, denser areas can also be observed. Xylene keratopathy disappeared gradually over 4 weeks with topical steroid treatment and did not cause permanent sequelae.
Conclusions:
Xylene exposure should be considered as possible etiologic agent of vacuolar epithelial and stromal keratopathy. Exposure may occur directly as a splash of liquid or through its vapors.
