Abstract

Aim: To describe the demographics, causes, clinical features, and management of patients with toxic keratitis due to custard apple seed and its various components in Eastern India.
Materials & Methods: Retrospective study performed on 27 patients with toxic keratitis due to injury from the application of custard apple seed or its derivatives in different scenarios. Detailed clinical examination was done. Patients were treated using standard management protocol. Clinical features and visual outcomes were evaluated and described.
Results: All patients had presented with epithelial defects and punctate epithelial erosion with severe pain. Within 3 days, the epithelial defect and pain had subsided. 3 patients had developed additional corneal ulcer, who had history of application of topical steroids.
Conclusion: To our best of knowledge this is the first case series documented from Eastern India with a varied ranges of usage of Custard Apple seed, and its toxic effect in cornea.