A 28-year-old male farmer presented to our emergency service with bilateral painful visual loss for the past 7 days that occurred suddenly after alcohol consumption. Examination showed bilateral central corneal epithelial defects, 3+ stromal edema, and cortical cataracts. After treatment with oral and topical corticosteroids for 4 weeks the corneal edema had subsided completely with mild anterior stromal scarring. Rapid progression of cataract to intumescent stage warranted sequential cataract surgeries 1 and 2 months after first presentation. Postoperatively, visual acuity recovered to 20/20 and 20/30 in the right and left eye respectively. This case highlights the extremely rare presentation of bilateral alcohol-induced toxic endothelitis, which recovered after intensive corticosteroid therapy.
Keywords: Alcohol keratitis; binge drinking; corneal edema; intumescent cataract; toxic endothelitis.