01866nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001700054653002400071653002300095653001200118653002900130100001200159700001200171700001600183700001200199245010900211856008500320300000700405490000700412520119100419022001401610       2022                            d  c01/202210aComplication10aCorneal perforation10aHansen’s disease10aleprosy10aNeurotrophic keratopathy1 aIraha S1 aKondo S1 aYamaguchi T1 aInoue T00aBilateral corneal perforation caused by neurotrophic keratopathy associated with leprosy: a case report.  uhttps://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12886-022-02265-6.pdf  a420 v223 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) is a rare degenerative corneal disease caused by damage to the trigeminal nerve. We hereby describe a severe case with bilateral corneal perforation due to leprosy (Hansen's disease)-associated NK.</p>

<p><strong>CASE PRESENTATION: </strong>An 89-year-old man with a history of leprosy treated 40 years previously in our sanatorium developed bilateral corneal perforation due to NK. He had a history of bilateral persistent epithelial defects and bacterial keratitis. Although epithelialization was obtained with the use of autologous serum eye drops, progressive corneal thinning concomitant with stromalysis led to bilateral perforation. Over one month treatment with topical antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and lubricants resulted in healing of the epithelial defects and corneal perforations. A Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer demonstrated a total absence of corneal sensation in both eyes.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>The present case indicated the irreversible nerve damage due to leprosy that had been cured 23 years ago, which can progress over the years and cause bilateral corneal perforations.</p>
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