Pseudodentritic keratitis associated with meibomitis in young healthy males

To report unusual corneal manifestations of pseudodendritic keratitis in cases of coexisting meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Retrospective chart review of five cases of MGD with associated atypical corneal lesions was carried out. Information including patient's age, symptoms and their duration, clinical features, methods of diagnosis, treatment, and outcome were abstracted from the medical records. Pseudodendritic keratitis and MGD was defined before the data collection.

All five patients were males within the age range of 6-24 years. Common symptoms were irritation and watering. MGD, which was defined as stenosis of meibomian gland orifices and/or turbid meibomian secretions, was seen in all the patients. Corneal lesions were epithelial, raised and dendritic in morphology. Blood investigations carried out to rule out tyrosinemia in three of the patients were negative. Bandage contact lens facilitated disappearance of these lesions in five eyes.

Corneal involvement in the form of pseudodendritic keratitis may be associated with MGD. Application of bandage contact lens facilitated prompt resolution, suggesting mechanical factor with or without other etiological factors may be at interplay in producing these innocuous corneal lesions.