Pellucid marginal corneal degeneration
J. H. Krachmer
Pellucid marginal degeneration of the cornea is a bilateral, clear,
inferior, peripheral corneal-thinning disorder. Protrusion of the cornea
occurs above a band of thinning, which is located 1 to 2 mm from the limbus
and measures 1 to 2 mm in width. American ophthalmologists are generally
not familiar with the condition because most of the literature concerning
pellucid degeneration is European. Four cases are described. This condition
is differentiated from other noninflammatory cornel-thinning disorders such
as keratoconus, keratoglobus, keratotorus, and posterior keratoconus. It is
also differentiated from peripheral corneal disorders associated with
inflammation such as Terrien's peripheral corneal degeneration, Mooren's
ulcers, and ulcers from connective tissue disease.
