Incidence of corneal melting in association with systemic disease in the Yorkshire Region, 1995-7

Aims-To estimate the incidence of corneal melting or necrotising keratitis in association with systemic disease in the Yorkshire Region and to determi ne the type and duration of the systemic association. Methods-In a prospective study, vigorous attempts were made to identify all patients presenting with newly diagnosed corneal melting over a 3 year per iod. Results-27 patients were identified during the study period. Rheumatoid art hritis and Wegener's granulomatosis were the most common disease associatio ns. Corneal melting was a late complication of rheumatoid arthritis, but us ually occurred during early and overt systemic disease in patients with Weg ener's granulomatosis. Conclusion-The annual incidence of corneal melting in the Yorkshire Region is 3.01/million/year (95% CI = 0.7-9.6).