Keratolysis Associated with Methamphetamine Use – Incidental Diagnosis of Corneal Melt in a Patient with Acute Methamphetamine Intoxication

• Published in: Clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 472 - 473
• Main Authors: Heer, Jagdipak, Heavey, Sean, Quesada, Daniel, Aguìñiga-Navarrete, Phillip, Garrett, Madison, Barkataki, Kieron
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Irvine University of California Digital Library - eScholarship 01.08.2020; University of California Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine publishing Western Journal of Emergency Medicine; eScholarship Publishing, University of California
• Subjects: Clinical medicine; Cocaine; Cornea; Drug use; Emergency communications systems; Emergency medical care; Images in Emergency Medicine; Injuries; Medicine; Methamphetamine; Patients
• ISSN: 2474-252X; 2474-252X
• DOI: 10.5811/cpcem.2020.3.43981

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old male presented to the emergency department with methamphetamine-induced agitation. Physical exam showed clouding of the left cornea, with gelatinous appearance and associated conjunctivitis, consistent with corneal melt, or keratolysis. Discussion: Keratolysis is dissolution of the corneal stroma that can lead to corneal ulceration and vision loss. Smoking stimulants has been shown to be associated with this pattern of ocular injury, although this is a relatively rare presentation. Acute keratolysis is a unique complication of methamphetamine preparation and ingestion via smoking that can lead to corneal ulceration and loss of vision.