Recurrent corneal erosion, microcystic epithelial dystrophy, map configurations and fingerprint lines in the cornea

A 45-year-old lady presented with a recurrent corneal erosion. On closer examination, she was found to have epithelial microcysts and fingerprint dystrophy. Pathologic material from the affected cornea showed microcysts, protrusions of basement membrane and evidence of poor adhesion between the basement membrane and the epithelial cells, as well as between the epithelial cells themselves. The case demonstrated the clinical and pathologic features of recurrent corneal erosion, microcystic disease and fingerprint dystrophy of the cornea, together with the pathologic findings of map dystrophy. The authors suggest that these four diseases are various expressions of a clinicopathologic entity, epithelial basement membrane corneal dystrophy. A pathologic explanation for recurrent corneal erosion is apparent.