The peripheral corneal melting syndrome (PCMS) is a rare disease consisting
of marginal corneal thinning that can progress to perforation. The PCMS ca
rries a grave prognosis and it is of vital importance that dermatologists a
re aware that this may be responsible for a painful red eye in a patient wi
th psoriasis. We highlight the features of the PCMS developing in an elderl
y woman with long-standing psoriasis to increase awareness of its significa
nce, and hypothesize that an association may exist between the two conditio
ns. Only one previous report has been published in which the authors specul
ate on the possible association of this syndrome with psoriasis, That few o
ther cases have been described is either a consequence of under-reporting b
y both ophthalmologists and dermatologists unaware of a link or because the
relationship between the syndrome and psoriasis is genuinely coincidental.