Unusual corneal deposit after the topical use of cyclosporine as eyedrops

PURPOSE: To report a patient who developed bilateral corneal opacities 5 da ys after the beginning topical cyclosporine. METHODS: Case report. A 45-year-old woman with graft-versus-host disease pr esented with bilateral corneal deposits. She had been treated with topical physiological saline solution, sodium hyaluronate, ofloxacin, fluorometholo ne, and oxybuprocaine, Cyclosporine eyedrops were added for persistent corn eal epithelial defect bilaterally Five days after cyclosporine, she complai ned of visual loss and dense corneal opacities were detected that covered t he pupil bilaterally. RESULTS: Deposits were also observed on the punctal plugs, and infrared spe ctroscopy and X-ray analysis showed that these deposits had properties of c yclosporine. CONCLUSION: Topical cyclosporine, alone or in combination with other eyedro ps, may cause severe corneal deposits in patients with disturbance of the c orneal epithelial barrier and decreased tear clearance. (C) 2000 by Elsevie r Science Inc. All rights reserved.