Shrinkage of conjunctiva, Terrien's marginal degeneration, and perforation of cornea in rheumatoid arthritis.

The unusual occurrence of severe conjunctival shrinkage resembling ocular pemphigoid and bilateral Terrien's marginal degeneration of the cornea in rheumatoid arthritis is described. In less than two years the right eye was lost due to spontaneous corneal perforation and the left became totally blind because of scarring and shrinkage of the conjunctiva. A common unknown factor is speculated as an etiologic relationship between rheumatoid arthritis, ocular pemphigoid, and Terrien's marginal corneal degeneration.