Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is an autoimmune-mediated corneal infiltration associated with systemic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It is most commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis, but can also be associated with Wegener's granulomatosis, polyarteritis nodosa, lupus, scleroderma, and other inflammatory diseases. PUK is usually unilateral and peripheral, due to the proximity to the conjunctival vasculature. There is typically an epithelial defect overlying the infiltrate and associated corneal stromal thinning or melting. The lesions will stain positively with fluorescein if there is an overlying epithelial defect.
The patient in these photographs was later diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis upon systemic rheumatologic workup.
Ophthalmic Atlas Images by EyeRounds.org, The University of Iowa are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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