Purpose: To describe corneal changes in patients with epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD) using a new in vivo confocal microscope.
Design: Observational case series.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of 22 consecutive patients with EBMD at the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital from April 2004 to March 2005 was conducted. Gender, age, history of painful episodes suggestive of recurrent erosions, best-corrected visual acuity, slit lamp findings, and in vivo confocal microscopy images were analyzed.
Results: There were 8 male (36.4%) and 14 female (63.6%) subjects. Eighteen patients (81.2%) had a history of recurrent erosions in 1 or in both eyes. In 37 eyes of 19 patients (86.4%), map and/or dot and/or fingerprint changes were observed biomicroscopically. In 3 patients (13.6%) with recurrent erosions, the cornea had a normal structure on slit lamp examination and the diagnosis of EBMD was made after in vivo confocal microscopy examination. Four patients (18%), despite basement membrane abnormalities, reported no corneal symptoms suggesting recurrent erosions. In vivo confocal microscopy images showed that all patients had an abnormal epithelial basement membrane protruding into the corneal epithelium, epithelial cell abnormalities, and microcysts. No abnormalities were observed in superficial epithelial cells or the stroma.
Conclusion: Epithelial basement membrane dystrophy is characterized by an abnormal basement membrane protruding toward the epithelium and epithelial microcysts. In vivo confocal microscopy using the HRT II Rostock Cornea Module provides better resolution and therefore outlines distinctively in vivo microstructural characteristics of EBMD. It assists in the diagnosis of EBMD in patients suffering from recurrent erosion syndrome, particularly in patients with no corneal change visible biomicroscopically.