Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis
Medical condition
Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK, Théodore's syndrome [ 1] ) is a disease of the eye[ 2] characterized by episodes of recurrent inflammation of the superior cornea and limbus , as well as of the superior tarsal and bulbar conjunctiva .[ 3] It was first described by F. H. Théodore in 1963.[ 4]
Symptoms and signs
Patients present with red eye, burning, tearing, foreign body sensation and mild photophobia .[ 5] Upon examination, the conjunctiva appears inflamed and thickened, especially at the limbus.[citation needed ]
Pathophysiology
The development and pathophysiology of SLK is not well understood, but appears to involve microtrauma of keratoconjunctival surfaces.[ 6] This mechanical hypothesis is supported by the increased lid apposition of exophthalmic thyroid patients, who are known to have an increased incidence of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis.[ 5]
Diagnosis
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Treatment
First-line treatments include topical corticosteroids and artificial tears .[ 7] For non-responsive cases, potential treatments include topical ciclosporin A ,[ 8] vitamin A ,[ 9] autologous serum[ 10] and injections of triamcinolone .[ 11] Surgical treatment options include thermocauterization of the bulbar conjunctiva[ 12] and conjunctival resection ,[ 13] typically under rose bengal (RB) staining to visualize affected areas.[ 7]
Epidemiology
Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis tends to occur more often with dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) , hyperthyroidism and hyperparathyroidism .[ 14] It is also a rare complication associated with rheumatoid arthritis.[ 3] Rarely, it may occur as a consequence of upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery.[ 15]
References
^ Matsuo, H. (July 1970). "[Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (Theodore's syndrome)]" . Ganka. Ophthalmology . 12 (7): 612. ISSN 0016-4488 . PMID 5466382 .
^ "Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program" . rarediseases.info.nih.gov . Retrieved 2017-09-30 .
^ a b "Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis - EyeWiki" . eyewiki.aao.org . Retrieved 2021-07-03 .
^ Theodore, F. H. (January 1963). "Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis" . Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Monthly . 42 : 25–28. ISSN 0014-5491 . PMID 13980870 .
^ a b "Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis (SLK): Background, Etiology and Pathophysiology, Pathophysiology" . 2021-06-17.
^ Cher, Ivan (2000). "Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis: multifactorial mechanical pathogenesis" . Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology . 28 (3): 181–184. doi :10.1046/j.1442-9071.2000.00284.x . ISSN 1442-9071 . PMID 10981793 . S2CID 23900077 .
^ a b Yokoi, Norihiko; Komuro, Aoi; Maruyama, Kunio; Tsuzuki, Masakatsu; Miyajima, Seiya; Kinoshita, Shigeru (2003-03-01). "New surgical treatment for superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis and its association with conjunctivochalasis" . American Journal of Ophthalmology . 135 (3): 303–308. doi :10.1016/S0002-9394(02)01975-X . ISSN 0002-9394 . PMID 12614746 .
^ Perry, Henry D.; Doshi-Carnevale, Sima; Donnenfeld, Eric D.; Kornstein, Howard S. (2003-08-01). "Topical cyclosporine A 0.5% as a possible new treatment for superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis" . Ophthalmology . 110 (8): 1578–1581. doi :10.1016/S0161-6420(03)00538-4 . ISSN 0161-6420 . PMID 12917176 .
^ Ohashi, Yuichi; Watanabe, Hitoshi; Kinoshita, Shigeru; Hosotani, Hisashi; Umemoto, Masayo; Manabe, Reizo (1988-05-01). "Vitamin A Eyedrops for Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis" . American Journal of Ophthalmology . 105 (5): 523–527. doi :10.1016/0002-9394(88)90245-0 . ISSN 0002-9394 . PMID 3285694 .
^ Goto, Eiki; Shimmura, Shigeto; Shimazaki, Jun; Tsubota, Kazuo (November 2001). "Treatment of Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis by Application of Autologous Serum" . Cornea . 20 (8): 807–810. doi :10.1097/00003226-200111000-00006 . ISSN 0277-3740 . PMID 11685056 . S2CID 22666102 .
^ Shen, Ying-Cheng; Wang, Chun-Yuan; Tsai, Hin-Yeung; Lee, Yi-Fen (May 2007). "Supratarsal Triamcinolone Injection in the Treatment of Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis" . Cornea . 26 (4): 423–426. doi :10.1097/ICO.0b013e318030d230 . ISSN 0277-3740 . PMID 17457190 . S2CID 43314789 .
^ Udell, Ira J.; Kenyon, Kenneth R.; Sawa, Mitsuru; Dohlman, Claes H. (1986-02-01). "Treatment of Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis by Thermocauterization of the Superior Bulbar Conjunctiva" . Ophthalmology . 93 (2): 162–166. doi :10.1016/S0161-6420(86)33766-7 . ISSN 0161-6420 . PMID 3951822 .
^ Passons, Gary A.; Wood, Thomas O. (1984-08-01). "Conjunctival Resection for Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis" . Ophthalmology . 91 (8): 966–968. doi :10.1016/S0161-6420(84)34207-5 . ISSN 0161-6420 . PMID 6493706 .
^ Nelson, J. D. (March 1989). "Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK)" . Eye . 3 (2): 180–189. doi :10.1038/eye.1989.26 . ISSN 1476-5454 . PMID 2695351 .
^ Sheu, Mike C.; Schoenfield, Lynn; Jeng, Bennie H. (May 2007). "Development of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis after upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery: support for the mechanical theory of its pathogenesis" . Cornea . 26 (4): 490–492. doi :10.1097/ICO.0b013e3180303b02 . ISSN 0277-3740 . PMID 17457203 . S2CID 38690433 .
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