[Pathogenesis and treatment of primary and secondary recurrent erosion (author's transl)]

Out of 72 cases of recurrent erosion (RE) a trauma was given as the cause in 61. In 11 cases it occurred spontaneously. Primary recurrent erosion develops predominantly after corneal injury by foreign bodies of organic origin. Finger nail injuries are the most common cause of RE (in erosions 2%, in recurrent erosions 20%). The composition and surface structure of the injuring body may well be of far greater importance with regard to the statistical incidence of primary RE than the mechanism of the trauma (tangential bruising). In RE there may be a neurodystrophy (situated below the centre, organic foreign bodies). In addition to the frequently encountered primary RE (usually after injury by an organic foreign body) there is a "secondary" RE, less often seen, presumably hereditary, and bilateral, in superficial corneal and epithelial dystrophies. We have achieved good therapeutic results by doing a corneal abrasion and inducing a circumscribed inflammation (with lactic acid).