The causes of inherited recurrent corneal erosion may be classified into two major groups: (1) Those associated with primary epithelial dystrophies, including the Franceschetti type, a newly described epithelial rosette dystrophy, basement membrane disorder, and Meesmann's dystrophy, (2) Those associated with the anterior limiting membrane, stromal, and endothelial dystrophies. There is also a third group, including epidermolysis bullosa, in which recurrent erosion attacks are part of a wider systemic disorder. Attention is drawn to the age at onset, presentation, morphological features, and progression of each disorder.