Successful use of topical retinoic acid in severe dry eye due to chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract

Topical retinoic acid has proved to be of variable benefit in a number of dry eye disorders of disparate aetiology, in which squamous metaplasia with keratinization of ocular epithelium is present. Its exact role in patients with dry eye however remains in dispute. We describe a case of severe dry eye due to chronic graft-versus-host disease, which was refractory to conventional therapy but which responded remarkably to topical retinoic acid with reversal of conjunctival keratinization and marked resolution of symptoms.