SUPERFICIAL PUNCTATE PARENCHYMATOUS KERATITIS

Superficial punctate parenchymatous keratitis may be defined as a disturbance of the subepithelial tissues of the cornea resulting in the formation of minute flecks and wavy lines. It occurs with conjunctivitis. It is usually bilateral and disappears without leaving any trace. There is no involvement of the corneal epithelium. The symptoms of the disease are set down from the records of 195 cases observed during thirteen years. They are as follows: Recurrent attacks of mild or severe conjunctivitis occur in association with photophobia, lacrimation and redness, particularly of the bulbar conjunctiva. These symptoms may be severe or mild, or they may be chronic with acute exacerbations. The feeling of a foreign body is often the most marked symptom. The patient may be awakened in the night by discomfort; the following morning the eye is moderately red and he goes to his physician to have the supposed foreign body removed. In