Marginal corneal ulcers with acute beta streptococcal conjunctivitis and chronic dacryocystitis

A 73-year-old woman had right dacryocystitis, intense conjunctival hyperemia and chemosis, marginal corneal ulcers, and abscesses and conjunctival cultures that were positive for beta hemolytic streptococci. A distinct lucid interval separated the peripheral corneal ulcers and infiltrates from the corneoscleral limbus. Gram stain of corneal scrapings revealed polymorphonuclear leukocytes but no bacteria, and corneal cultures were negative for bacteria. The peripheral corneal ulcers and abscesses in our patient with the lacrimal conjunctivitis of Morax clinically resembled the catarrhal ulcers found with staphylococcal blepharitis. A hypersensitivity or toxic reaction to streptococci or their products may have played a role in the development of the marginal ulcers in this patient.