Diagnosis of early lattice corneal dystrophy.

Seven children from two unrelated families had lattice corneal dystrophy. Their ages ranged from 3 to 13 years at initial examination. The children were observed for an average of 35 months. Three distinct early slitlamp characteristics were found. The first characteristic was subepithelial white opacities that were discrete, round or ovoid, nonrefractile, nonstaining, variably sized (estimated at 0.1 to 0.5 mm), and larger than the previously reported minute refractile dots. The second finding was a diffuse axial anterior stromal haze that was either the initial sign or developed in conjunction with the other two characteristics. The third finding was anterior stromal dots and filamentary lines that were refractile on indirect slitlamp illumination and white on direct illumination. Knowledge of these three slitlamp characteristics in conjunction with examination of older family members wil facilitate the early diagnosis of lattice corneal dystrophy.