Total Corneal Melt in Patient with Porphyria Cutanea Tarda in Presence of Another Risk Factor.

Purpose: To report a case of two siblings affected by porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) presenting with varying severity of ocular disease and evaluation of difference in the presence of risk factors.

Methods

Case report Result: A 42-year-old Indian male diagnosed with PCT and history of daily intake of alcohol, presented with sudden decrease in vision of right eye. Examination showed perforated cornea surrounded by rim of 360-degree avascular necrotic sclera, with no evidence of infection. Similar systemic history was present in his elder brother. He did not consume alcohol and presented with mere localized scleral thinning. Since the patient's sibling acted as a natural control for the evaluation of alcohol as an independent risk factor, the difference in severity of disease can be explained on the basis of difference in alcohol intake.

Conclusion

In the presence of progression of the disease, other risk factors like intake of alcohol should be evaluated.