Confocal microscopy of subepithelial infiltrates occurring after epidemic keratoconjunctivitis

To describe the confocal microscopic findings in subepithelial infiltrates (SEIs) associated with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC).

Observational case report.

A 14-year-old Saudi girl with keratoconus developed SEIs after the onset of bilateral EKC. Confocal microscopy of the left cornea 8 weeks after the onset of EKC showed many highly reflective dendritic cells at the level of basal epithelium, epithelial basement membrane zone, and anterior stroma, as well as many highly reflective fusiform and round cells within the anterior stroma, with decreasing density in progressively deeper layers of the stroma. These findings were not present on confocal microscopy that had been performed 2 weeks before the onset of EKC.

Confocal microscopic examination of SEIs after EKC provides evidence of an inflammatory response localized to the basal epithelium and anterior stroma of the central cornea.