Orally administered tetracycline for phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis.

We treated six patients who had recurrent episodes of nontuberculous phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis and progressive corneal vascularization and scarring with oral tetracycline. This treatment resulted in rapid relief of symptoms and the apparent arrest of this disease. There have been no complications secondary to the use of tetracycline. To date, there has been only one recurrence in the patients treated with tetracycline which consisted of mild conjunctival hyperemia. We believe oral tetracycline is a safe and effective treatment for resistant and recurrent nontuberculous phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis and an alternative to topical corticosteroid treatment in those patients suffering from corticosteroid-induced complications.