Central corneal iron deposition after myopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.
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.
Yeung
Ling
L
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Chen
Yeong-Fong
YF
Lin
Ken-Kuo
KK
Huang
Samuel Cm
SC
Hsiao
Ching-Hsi
CH
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*