BAND KERATOPATHY IN DISTURBANCES OF CALCIUM METABOLISM

Abstract

A FORM of band keratopathy, often accompanied with characteristic conjunctival changes, has been reported in 32 patients, by various authors.¹ All have shown definite or suspected evidence of abnormality in calcium metabolism. Among the entities producing this picture are sarcoidosis, hyperparathyroidism, renal disease, and vitamin D poisoning. Because this entity is rare, it seems worth while to present three cases observed by us. The first is that of a boy with renal rickets (renal osteodystrophy) who showed both corneal and conjunctival changes. This case is especially interesting in that even though large doses of calcium lactate and vitamin D were administered therapeutically, hypercalcemia was never demonstrated. The second case is that of a white man with sarcoidosis. The third case is that of a white woman with renal disease. This ophthalmologic picture of disturbed calcium metabolism is one of a band opacity in the most superficial layers of the