The cornea and systemic diseases.

Multiple systemic diseases imply corneal involvement. Corneal pathology may also be a presenting sign or may herald a forthcoming relapse of chronic disease. The presence of ulcerative keratitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be associated with systemic lethal vasculitis. Epithelial fragility of the cornea is correlated to the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Rarely, interstitial keratitis may be the presenting sign of sarcoidosis. Corneal involvement in oculomucocutaneous syndromes continue to present a therapeutic challenge. Infectious and possibly drug-induced corneal pathology is a recurrent problem in patients with AIDS.