ATYPICAL BAND KERATOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH ANTIGLAUCOMA THERAPY

Two glaucomatous patients had a clinical picture of atypical band kera topathy develop several years after local antiglaucoma treatment, incl uding pilocarpine, tiloptic, and epinephrine. These medications consis ted of three preservatives: benzalkonium chloride, edetate disodium te tra acetate (EDTA), and boric acid. The combination of benzalkonium ch loride and EDTA was reported to cause a toxic effect on superficial st romal keratocytes. It is assumed that this atypical band keratopathy h as developed in a primarily degenerated superficial stroma, which is a ssociated with the toxic effect of this combination of three preservat ives.