title: Corneal tattooing: an alternative treatment for disfiguring corneal scars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The performance and results of corneal tattooing are described in a case series of 11 patients suffering from a disfiguring corneal scar using a technique similar to conventional dermatography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drawing ink in different shades was applied into the anterior corneal stroma by punctures performed with a conventional spatula needle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Up to 4 years after surgery all patients still had satisfactory staining of the formerly cosmetically disfiguring corneal scar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tattooing of unsightly corneal scars proved to be an efficient and easy to perform technique, yielding acceptable results during follow up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. pitz@augen.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pitz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frisch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000628:therapy*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007281:Ink; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013653:Tattooing / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome