title: Central corneal iron deposition after myopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe central corneal iron deposition after myopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients visiting our outpatient clinics between February 2003 and January 2004 and displaying post-LASIK corneal iron deposits were retrospectively enrolled in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two eyes of 24 patients developed corneal iron deposition after myopic LASIK surgery. All eyes displayed a small, spotty iron deposit located in the center of the corneal flap. The median interval between LASIK and diagnosis of corneal iron deposition was 22.5 months. The spherical equivalents of achieved correction ranged from 4.00 D to 17.50 D.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spotty corneal iron deposition can develop in the center of the corneal flap after myopic LASIK surgery. Because it is asymptomatic, the condition may have been hitherto underestimated in patient populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Yeong-Fong
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ken-Kuo
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Samuel Cm
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ching-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012806:Siderosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology*