Unilateral central corneal epithelial dysplasia.

A unilateral, apparently nonfamilial disease process affecting the interpalpebral portion of the corneal epithelium is reported. The patient, a 62-year-old man, was in good general health; he had no disease of the skin or mucous membranes and no history of trauma. Severe intermittent discomfort of the left eye had been present for several months. Corneal epithelial scrapings were performed on two occasions with a one-year interval, the condition having recurred during the intervening months. Material from both biopsy specimens showed dysplasia of the epithelium with foci of acantholysis and dyskeratosis and features of apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopic findings included intracytoplasmic desmosomes, conspicuous thickened tonofibrils, irregular convoluted cytoplasmic membranes, and dyskeratotic bodies.