Treatment of lipid keratopathy with the argon laser.
Twenty-two patients with lipid keratopathy were treated with argon laser photocoagulation to the feeder vessels. Two were grafted just over a week after treatment and the corneal discs examined histologically. The remainder of the patients were followed up for a least a year. In 6 cases the visual acuity improved, in 3 deteriorated, and in 10 did not change. The density and extent of the lipid deposition were diminished in 50% of cases. The commonest complications were bleeding into the lipid keratopathy and iris damage. The only serious problem was a disciform type of lipid keratopathy that flared up after treatment. Suggestions are made on improvements in the technique of laser application.
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D014792:Visual Acuity