[Anesthetic keratitis (author's transl)].

Report of six patients with corneal lesions due to abuse of local anesthetics. Depending on the duration and frequency of application of local anesthetics and individual disposition, the following lesions occur: superficial punctate keratitis, corneal erosions, edema of epithelium and stroma, stromal infiltrates, stromal defects, iritis, cataract, secondary glaucoma. During the prolonged period of healing following a stromal affection, bullae of the epithelium and erosions occur at these sites repeatedly in some cases; vascularization and leukoma may also occur. The most important local anesthetics currently in use are mentioned. Local anesthetics for the eye should only be administered by the physician.