Keratopathy delayed

Pleyer, U., Sherif, Z., Baatz, H., Hartmann, C. (1999). Delayed mustard gas keratopathy clinical findings and confocal microscopy. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 128 506-7. 

Individuals who sustain acute ocular injury due to high-dose mustard exposure may experience difficulties even after the initial effects of the injury have subsided. Recurrent or persistent corneal ulceration can occur after latent periods of 10 to 25 years. Chronic conjunctivitis and comeal clouding may accompany this delayed keratopathy. Anecdotal accounts suggest that low-dose exposure also causes increased sensitivity to later exposure to mustard, although the existence of increased sensitivity is difficult to substantiate with available scientific evidence. ... 

Baradaran-Rafii, A., Javadi, M.A., Rezaei Kanavi, M., et al., 2010. Limbal stem cell deficiency in chronic and delayed-onset mustard gas keratopathy. Ophthalmology 117 (2), 246-252. 

Jafarinasab, M.R., Zarei-Ghanavati, S., Kanavi, M.R., et al., 2010. Confocal microscopy in chronic and delayed mustard gas keratopathy. Cornea 29 (8), 889-894. 

The eyes are the organs most sensitive to SM injury. Acute effects are conjunctivitis, with dry eye, pain and photophobia. More than 60% of eye injuries recover and vision is restored. The remaining patients develop chronic or delayed-onset mustard gas keratopathy (MGK). Khateri et al (2003) reported that 35% of injured veterans had mild ocular injury (dry eye, conjunctival scarring and decreased visual acuity) and 3.6% had moderate injury that included some corneal involvement. Severe symptoms were described in fewer than 1% of patients. MGK is characterized by chronic blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye, perilimbal conjunctival ischemia. 

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