Herpetic endothelial keratitis. A case report.

Corneal endothelial reaction on a 60-year-old male with acute anterior uveitis following typical dendritic keratitis was studied by bio- and specular microscopes. The epithelial dendritic ulcer of the left cornea healed within 10 days with topical trifluorothymidin treatment. Six weeks later the same eye became red and painful and anterior uveitis was diagnosed. Changes in the endothelium suggested that endothelitis was also present. The non-reflecting black endothelial areas were documented as a new sign, by specular microscopy. The black areas disappeared in 3 days with topical trifluorothymidin and corticosteroid treatment. The pathomechanism of these transient black areas is discussed.