RECENT studies1 have shown that there is a close relation between prolonged quinacrine ("atabrine") medication and the development of cutaneous lesions bearing a striking resemblance to classic lichen planus. Because of this resemblance, the name "atypical lichen planus" was designated as the most appropriate term for the disease. It is my opinion that both the quinacrine medication and the subsequent cutaneous lesions played an important role in the production of the keratitis. This belief will be elaborated on later.
In all the literature dealing with this disease and in a personal observation of over 250 cases, only 1 case was encountered in which the deeper layers of the cornea were affected. This ocular involvement was particularly, interesting not only because of its rarity but because of its close relation to the course of the cutaneous disease. It appeared during the height of the cutaneous disturbance and subsided in a