Progressive corneal vascularization caused by graft-versus-host disease.

PURPOSE: To report a case with severe dry eye and progressive corneal vascularization caused by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

METHODS

A case report and review of literature.

RESULTS

A 50-year-old man with history of acute myeloblastic leukemia, high-dose chemotherapy for eradication of hematopoietic stem cells, subsequent allogenic bone marrow transplantation, and eventually GVHD was referred for decreased vision and photophobia. Ocular examinations revealed severe dry eye that finally led to progressive corneal vascularization not responding to medical therapy.

CONCLUSION

In any patient with GVHD, the physician should pay special attention to early diagnosis and treatment of dry eye before development of corneal neovascularization. Intimate collaboration of an ophthalmologist with the patient's oncologist may be sight saving.