A Rare Manifestation of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus Solely in the Lower Eyelid of a Young Man

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)-associated edema and erythema on the lower eyelid as the only manifestation of the disease is a rare clinical entity. Persistent discoid lupus-related lower eyelid manifestations are challenging to diagnose, can be mistaken for blepharitis or malignancies, and often require histopathological evaluation. If left untreated, the condition can progress, among others, to conjunctival scarring or symblepharon formation. Thus, early identification and management of the disease entity is of the utmost significance. We present a rare case of a young patient with enduring, unilateral lower eyelid edema and erythema that had been managed as blepharitis for several years. No other related cutaneous involvement was detected on the eyelids, face, or body. Following a lower eyelid biopsy and histopathological assessment, the patient was diagnosed with underlying DLE. This case report reviews the previous literature, discusses a differentiation strategy from other relevant pathologies, such as blepharitis and sebaceous cell carcinoma, and highlights the implemented diagnostic procedures.