Recurrent attacks of acute ocular pain, photophobia, foreign body sensation, and tearing. The pain may awaken patients from sleep or occur immediately upon eye opening. There is often a history of prior corneal abrasion in the involved eye.
Critical
Localized irregularity and mobility of the corneal epithelium (fluorescein dye may outline the area with negative or positive staining) or a corneal abrasion. Epithelial changes may resolve within hours of the onset of symptoms so abnormalities may be subtle or absent when the patient is examined.
Other
Corneal epithelial dots or microcysts, a fingerprint pattern, or map-like lines may be seen in both eyes if epithelial basement membrane (mapdotfingerprint) dystrophy is present. These findings may also be seen unilaterally and focally in any eye that has recurrent erosions.
Damage to the corneal epithelium or epithelial basement membrane from one of the following:
Every 1 to 2 days until the epithelium has healed, and then every 1 to 3 months, depending on the severity and frequency of the episodes. It is important to educate patients that persistent use of lubricating ointment (5% sodium chloride or tear ointment) for 3 to 6 months following the initial healing process reduces the chance of recurrence.