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Treatment of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis with a unilateral bandage contact lens
  1. S Watson,
  2. A B Tullo,
  3. F Carley
  1. Corneal Unit, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WH, UK
  1. Correspondence to: Mr Tullo; atullo{at}central.cmht.nwest.nhs.uk

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The typical patient with superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK) is a woman aged between 20 and 60 years of age with chronic red and irritable eyes.1 Although both eyes are usually affected, the condition maybe asymmetrical.1 After episodes of exacerbation and remission it usually resolves. The patient may also have abnormal thyroid function.2

SLK has been treated with silver nitrate or thermal cauterisation of the superior bulbar conjunctiva, pressure patching, and large diameter bandage contact lenses (BCL), topical trans-retinoic acid 0.1%, and recession or resection of the superior bulbar conjunctiva.1, 3 Over 50% of patients with SLK are said to have keratoconjunctivitis sicca4 and recently upper punctal plugs have been used to treat SLK.5

We report two cases in which a unilateral BCL wear ameliorated the symptoms of bilateral SLK and a possible explanation is discussed.

Case reports

Case 1

A 38 year old woman presented with a 3 month history of irritable photophobic eyes that were unresponsive to preserved lubricants. Her right eye was amblyopic. On systemic review she reported weight loss, heat intolerance, and insomnia.

Slit lamp examination revealed bilateral superior conjunctival hyperaemia, superior punctate epithelial erosions, and four to five filaments and micropannus …

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