Calotropis procera (ushaar) keratitis

PURPOSE: To report a case of permanent endothelial cell injury after intracorneal penetration of milky latex from Calotropis Procera (ushaar). DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 40-year-old patient developed painless corneal edema despite minimal epithelial injury after exposure to ushaar latex. RESULTS: Confocal and specular microscopy confirmed permanent endothelial cell loss with morphologic alteration after intracorneal penetration of ushaar latex. Corneal edema resolved completely after 2 weeks, although reduced endothelial cell count and abnormal morphology persisted. CONCLUSION: Ushaar latex is capable of penetrating the corneal stroma and inducing permanent loss of endothelial cells. Corneal edema resolves if sufficient endothelial cell viability is still present after resolution of ushaar keratitis. (C) 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.