Corneal changes during pilocarpine gel therapy.

Fifteen of 53 patients (28%) receiving long-term pilocarpine gel therapy were noted to have a subtle, diffuse superficial corneal haze. Results of a masked examination of patients using pilocarpine gel vs pilocarpine eyedrops and the finding of the haze unilaterally in patients using the gel unilaterally suggested that the haze is related to the pilocarpine gel. In most patients the haze persisted for two years after gel treatment was discontinued; the haze disappeared in two patients. Although patients remain asymptomatic with unaltered visual acuities, the long-term effect of this corneal change is unknown.