Topical anesthetic abuse keratitis secondary to floppy eyelid syndrome

To report the diagnosis and management of a patient with chronic ophthalmic topical anesthetic abuse and floppy eyelid syndrome.

We describe the case of a 47-year-old man suffering from persistent bilateral ocular irritation and chronic corneal erosions.

The patient was hospitalized in our ophthalmology department and underwent thorough ophthalmic, systemic, and psychiatric evaluation. Chronic topical anesthetic abuse was discovered. Removal of abused drops and copious lubricating treatment lead to partial improvement further permitting diagnosis of floppy eyelid syndrome. Definitive surgical treatment by horizontal eyelid tightening combined with continuous lubrication resulted in remission of symptoms.

Uncommon conditions may coexist in 1 patient. In this case, floppy eyelid syndrome resulted in topical anesthetic abuse. Ophthalmologists should keep both these conditions in mind when treating patients with otherwise unexplained chronic persistent corneal erosions.