REVERSIBLE NEUROTROPHIC KERATOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH ROSUVASTATIN THERAPY: A CASE REPORT.

BACKGROUND

Rosuvastatin is a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase enzyme inhibitor that is in wide use with few reported ocular adverse events.

OBJECTIVES

To report a case of bilateral neurotrophic keratopathy associated with rosuvastatin therapy that dramatically improved following drug discontinuation.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old female presented with painless diminution of vision in both eyes of gradual onset and progressive course for 1 month. She had recently started rosuvastatin therapy for hyperlipidemia. Examination revealed bilateral stage 2 neurotrophic keratopathy with impaired corneal sensation which was previously resistant to conservative ulcer treatment. Following discontinuation of rosuvastatin therapy, there was dramatic bilateral improvement in corneal sensation, size of the corneal ulcers, and visual acuity.

CONCLUSION

Rosuvastatin may result in reversible trigeminal nerve impairment and neurotrophic keratopathy.