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Corneal hypoaesthesia in asymptomatic familial distichiasis
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|February 1, 1986
Summary
Distichiasis, a condition causing extra eyelashes, was found in a child and two relatives. The child also experienced corneal issues, including erosion, possibly linked to prior surgery and reduced tear production.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Genetics
Background:
- Distichiasis is a congenital condition characterized by the presence of extra eyelashes originating from the eyelid margin.
- Corneal hypoaesthesia refers to reduced corneal sensitivity.
Observation:
- A familial cluster of asymptomatic distichiasis and corneal hypoaesthesia was identified in a 3-year-old child, his mother, and his uncle.
- The child presented with bilateral punctate epithelial staining, unlike the unaffected adult relatives.
- The child developed corneal erosion in the left eye secondary to decreased tear secretion post-neurosurgery (occipital craniotomy and C1 laminectomy).
Findings:
- The familial occurrence suggests a potential genetic component to distichiasis and corneal sensitivity.
- The child's corneal epithelial staining and erosion highlight the vulnerability of the cornea in the presence of reduced tear secretion and potentially altered innervation.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of ophthalmological evaluation in familial cases of distichiasis.
- It emphasizes the link between tear secretion, corneal health, and neurological interventions.
- Further research into the genetic basis of distichiasis and its association with corneal sensitivity is warranted.