[Sterile corneal ulcers in dry eye. Incidence and factors of occurrence].

Sterile corneal ulceration is a serious complication in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The records of 134 patients, 19 males and 115 females, who presented with dry eyes in the Ophthalmologic Clinic were reviewed. Over a period of 6 years, 33 eyes of 23 (17%) patients developed a sterile corneal ulcer. The etiologies of dry eyes in these patients were: Primary Sjogren's syndrome: 10 cases, rheumatoid arthritis: 5 cases, ocular pemphigoid 6 cases, atopy: 1 case, local irradiation: 1 case. Patient's age and sex were not significantly associated with ulcer development (p greater than 0.05). The presence of a major underlying disease was the major contributing factor. Appropriate local treatment and patient compliance were also contributing factors. Blepharitis was found in 90% of patients.