Ocular manifestations of the 1976 rubella epidemic in Japan.

Of 79 cases of rubella during the 1976--1977 rubella epidemic in Japan, 56 (70.9%) had mild conjunctivitis. Six (7.6%) showed epithelial keratitis, but the epidemically estimated incidence of keratitis was about 2% (two cases with rubella keratitis per 75 cases of rubella). No evidence of disease of the anterior chamber or the fundus was observed. Characteristic features of keratitis in juvenile rubella were fine punctate epithelial opacities mainly disseminated in the central area of the cornea. The punctate lesions were about 0.1 mm in diameter on an average, but varied in number from a few to about 100. In many cases, keratitis developed about one week after skin rash and disappeared within one week with no sequelae.