Introduction
Corneal clarity can be affected by the accumulation of a variety of substances, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and amino or nucleic acids. The anterior segment can be affected by autoimmune, dermatologic, musculoskeletal, and other disease processes. Recognition of the manifestations of these disorders requires prompt medical intervention. This chapter reviews common systemic conditions affecting the anterior segment, particularly the cornea. See also BCSC Section 2, Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology, and Section 6, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.
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Poll-The BT, Maillette de Buy Wenniger-Prick CJ. The eye in metabolic disease: clues to diagnosis. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2011;15(3):197–204.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.