Cornea pseudoguttata: a clinical and histopathologic description of endothelial cell edema.

Cornea guttata is a well-recognized corneal condition that is characterized by localized thickenings of Descemet's membrane. When these lesions disrupt, the regular endothelial mosaic, dark spots are seen in specular reflection. This same clinical appearance can be present during short-term episodes of iritis and corneal inflammation. Since it disappears with resolution of the inflammation, true cornea guttata (thickening of Descemet's membrane) obviously does not occur. Three cases of this transient clinical entity occurred. Production of iritis and corneal inflammation in rabbits with the use of bovine serum albumin and cautery resulted in the same transient appearance of dark spots, which interrupted the normal endothelial mosaic seen in specular reflection. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the cornea "pseudoguttata" disclosed transient endothelial cel edema.