Thygeson Superficial Punctate Keratitis 

  • Author: Robert S Duszak, OD, FAAO; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 14, 2010
 

Background

In 1950, Phillips Thygeson published case reports on a superficial punctate keratitis that he described as a transient, bilateral disease, having coarse corneal epithelial opacities and no associated stromal involvement.[1]

Today, this condition, now known as Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis (TSPK), is a chronic one, lasting years to decades. Multiple, whitish gray, intraepithelial corneal lesions, with minimal to no conjunctival involvement, are trademark characteristics of the disease.

Although TSPK has a genetic association with HLA-DR3, controversy exists regarding its exact etiology.

Artificial tears, topical corticosteroids, topical cyclosporine, and soft contact lenses are the typical treatment methods for the disease, and the success of these treatments varies according to the severity of the disease.

Although vision may be mildly decreased during the active disease, the long-term visual prognosis is excellent.

The cornea of a 33-year-old African American man wThe cornea of a 33-year-old African American man with active Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis (TSPK).
Next

Pathophysiology

A review of the literature suggests the pathophysiology of TSPK remains unclear, although viral and immunogenic components are both likely in the disease's formation.

Previous
Next

Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

A review of the literature suggests the frequency of TSPK in the United States is currently unknown.

International

A review of the literature suggests the worldwide frequency of TSPK is unknown.

Mortality/Morbidity

A review of the literature suggests TSPK does not cause mortality and the morbidity of the disease is unknown.

Race

A review of the literature suggests statistics on race for TSPK are currently unknown.

Sex

A review of the literature suggests there is no predilection for sex in TSPK.

Age

TSPK can affect individuals of all age groups. Cases of TSPK in patients ranging in age from 2.5 years to 70 years have been reported, with a mean age of 29 years.[2]

Previous
Proceed to Clinical Presentation
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert S Duszak, OD, FAAO  Attending, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Consulting Staff, Nemours Health Clinic, Mayfair Eye Associates; Adjunct Clinical Faculty, Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry

Robert S Duszak, OD, FAAO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Optometry, American Geriatrics Society, and American Optometric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Richard W Allinson, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center; Senior Staff Ophthalmologist, Scott and White Clinic

Richard W Allinson, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD  Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute; Chief of Section of Ophthalmology Surgical Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center, West Los Angeles

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Christopher J Rapuano, MD  Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University; Co-Chairman of the Cornea Service, Co-Chairman of Refractive Surgery Department, Wills Eye Institute

Christopher J Rapuano, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Cornea Society, Eye Bank Association of America, International Society of Refractive Surgery, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Allergan Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Allergan Consulting fee Consulting; Alcon Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Inspire Honoraria Speaking and teaching; RPS Ownership interest Other; Vistakon Honoraria Speaking and teaching; EyeGate Pharma Consulting; Inspire Consulting fee Consulting; Bausch & Lomb Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Lance L Brown, OD, MD  Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD  Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. Thygeson P. Superficial punctate keratitis. J Am Med Assoc. Dec 30 1950;144(18):1544-9. [Medline].

  2. Tabbara KF, Ostler HB, Dawson C, Oh J. Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Ophthalmology. Jan 1981;88(1):75-7. [Medline].

  3. Darrell RW. Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis: natural history and association with HLA DR3. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1981;79:486-516. [Medline].

  4. Jones BR. Thygeson's Superficial Punctate Keratitis. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1963;83:245-53. [Medline].

  5. Nagra PK, Rapuano CJ, Cohen EJ, Laibson PR. Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis: ten years' experience. Ophthalmology. Jan 2004;111(1):34-7. [Medline].

  6. Thygeson P. Clinical and laboratory observations on superficial punctate keratitis. Am J Ophthalmol. May 1966;61(5 Pt 2):1344-9. [Medline].

  7. Arffa RC. Grayson's Diseases of the Cornea. 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book; 1997.

  8. Tantum LA. Superficial punctate keratitis of Thygeson. J Am Optom Assoc. Dec 1982;53(12):985-6. [Medline].

  9. Lemp MA, Chambers RW Jr, Lundy J. Viral isolate in superficial punctate keratitis. Arch Ophthalmol. Jan 1974;91(1):8-10. [Medline].

  10. Braley AE, Alexander RC. Superficial punctate keratitis; isolation of a virus. AMA Arch Ophthalmol. Aug 1953;50(2):147-54. [Medline].

  11. Reinhard T, Roggendorf M, Fengler I, Sundmacher R. PCR for varicella zoster virus genome negative in corneal epithelial cells of patients with Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Eye. Mar 2004;18(3):304-5. [Medline].

  12. Reinhard T, Sundmacher R. Topical cyclosporin A in Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. Feb 1999;237(2):109-12. [Medline].

  13. Connell PP, O'Reilly J, Coughlan S, Collum LM, Power WJ. The role of common viral ocular pathogens in Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Br J Ophthalmol. Aug 2007;91(8):1038-41. [Medline].

  14. Cheng LL, Young AL, Wong AK, Law RW, Lam DS. In vivo confocal microscopy of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. Jun 2004;32(3):325-7. [Medline].

  15. Watson SL, Hollingsworth J, Tullo AB. Confocal microscopy of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy. Cornea. May 2003;22(4):294-9. [Medline].

  16. Tanzer DJ, Smith RE. Superficial punctate keratitis of thygeson: the longest course on record?. Cornea. Nov 1999;18(6):729-30. [Medline].

  17. Nesburn AB, Lowe GH 3rd, Lepoff NJ, Maguen E. Effect of topical trifluridine on Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Ophthalmology. Oct 1984;91(10):1188-92. [Medline].

  18. Gock G, Ong K, McClellan K. A classical case of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Aust N Z J Ophthalmol. Feb 1995;23(1):76-7. [Medline].

  19. Del Castillo JM, Del Castillo JB, Garcia-Sanchez J. Effect of topical cyclosporin A on Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Doc Ophthalmol. 1996-1997;93(3):193-8. [Medline].

  20. Hasanreisoglu M, Avisar R. Long-term topical cyclosporin A therapy in Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis: a case report. Cases J. Dec 23 2008;1(1):415. [Medline].

  21. Forstot SL, Binder PS. Treatment of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy with soft contact lenses. Am J Ophthalmol. Aug 1979;88(2):186-9. [Medline].

  22. Goldberg DB, Schanzlin DJ, Brown SI. Management of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Am J Ophthalmol. Jan 1980;89(1):22-4. [Medline].

  23. Jabbur NS, O'Brien TP. Recurrence of keratitis after excimer laser keratectomy. J Cataract Refract Surg. Jan 2003;29(1):198-201. [Medline].

  24. Seo KY, Lee JB, Jun RM, Kim EK. Recurrence of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis after photorefractive keratectomy. Cornea. Oct 2002;21(7):736-7; author reply 737. [Medline].

  25. Netto MV, Chalita MR, Krueger RR. Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis recurrence after laser in situ keratomileusis. Am J Ophthalmol. Sep 2004;138(3):507-8. [Medline].

  26. Fite SW, Chodosh J. Photorefractive keratectomy for myopia in the setting of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Cornea. May 2001;20(4):425-6. [Medline].

 
Previous
Next
 
The cornea of a 33-year-old African American man with active Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis (TSPK).
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.