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West Indian (Caribbean) Punctate Keratopathy in a Puerto Rican Girl
Estefania Ramirez Marquez1, Alejandra Santiago1, Carmen Santos1
1Ophthalmology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, USA.
Insights
This case report details West Indian (Caribbean) punctate keratopathy (WIPK) in a pediatric patient from Puerto Rico. It underscores the need to identify WIPK in children with Caribbean island residency.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Diseases
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
Background:
- West Indian (Caribbean) punctate keratopathy (WIPK) is a rare corneal condition.
- Pediatric cases of WIPK are infrequently reported, particularly in the USA.
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and chronic uveitis are relevant patient comorbidities.
Abstract:
We report on a case of West Indian (Caribbean) punctate keratopathy (WIPK) in a pediatric patient living in Puerto Rico, USA. A 9-year-old Hispanic girl presented for a routine ophthalmic follow-up. The patient had a history of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and chronic bilateral anterior uveitis. At the presentation, her visual acuity was 20/30 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. An examination of the right eye was remarkable for one round, white subepithelial corneal opacity of approximately 0.1 mm in height by 0.1 mm in width, located slightly lateral to the center of the cornea, which was consistent with WIPK. This case highlights the importance of recognizing WIPK in children who have a history of living on any one or more of the Caribbean islands.
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