BAND KERATOPATHY IN DISTURBANCES OF CALCIUM METABOLISM

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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