[Bleb-like and fingerprint dystrophies of the cornea]

Within the past two years we have seen the "bleb-like dystrophy" of Bron and Brown in 30 patients. It is characterized by groups of subepithelial excrescences measuring 15-100 microms. These pathologic changes can only be discerned biomicroscopically by retro-illumination; they do not result in any opacification of the corneal epithelium or stroma. In 21 cases a concomitant Fingerprint dystrophy of the cornea (Guerry) was observed. Both types of dystrophy were prevalent in female patients and in most cases occurred bilaterally. The relatively high incidence of recurrent erosions as well as the pathologic structure of the subepithelial membrane documented in the Fingerprint dystrophy points to a potential weakness of the corneal epithelium in these cases. This fact should be borne in mind especially when fiting contact lenses.