Climatic droplet keratopathy: a survey among ophthalmic patients

Climatic droplet keratopathy [CDK] was present in 4% of outpatients and 5% of inpatients seen for various ophthalmic diseases. Eighty three% [83%] were males. All patients had a rural background and history of an outdoors occupation. Ninety seven% [97.3%] suffered from primary degenerative CDK, and 2.7% had secondary CDK associated with previous corneal disease. Cataracts coexisted with primary degenerative CDK in 80% of cases; both conditions were jointly responsible for a high rate of blindness and loss of sight. The high incidence of CDK in the elderly, those who lived in rural areas, and those who had outdoors occupations reflects its prevalence in Saudi Arabia, and supports the concept that CDK is an environmental disease