Peripheral corneal endotheliopathy and pars planitis

A peripheral corneal endotheliopathy (PCE), named autoimmune endotheliopathy was described in association with corneal graft rejection and as an isolated corneal alteration unrelated to surgery, trauma, or infection. It has also been found in patients with pars planitis (PP), but the significance of this association is unknown. The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of 53 PP patients (106 eyes) examined at the Uveitis Clinic from 1988 to 1993. Special attention was paid to the description of corneal clinical findings. PCE was found in 18.8+ of the eyes, and of these, 70+ showed bilateral involvement. The presence of PCE was not related to PP severity, but PCE was more frequently seen in younger patients. This descriptive study shows that identification of PCE may aid in the diagnosis of childhood PP.