Immunosuppressive therapy for external ocular inflammatory disease.

Fourteen patients with progressive ocular inflammation and destructive lesions, unresponsive to conventional therapy, were treated with systemic immunosuppression. Ten patients had connective tissue/vasculitis diseases; two, cicatricial pemphigoid; and two, bilateral Mooren's corneal ulcers. Control of underlying systemic disease by immunosuppression resulted invariably in concomitant control of ocular inflammation and destruction. Encouraging results were obtained in the patients with cicatricial pemphigoid and those with bilateral Mooren's ulcers.