Slit-lamp, confocal, and light microscopic findings of corneal siderosis.
OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical, histopathologic, and confocal findings of corneal siderosis.


METHODS
A 35-year-old man presented after a car battery explosion with diffuse left corneal anterior stromal pigment deposition and an intraocular metallic foreign body of the left iris. The corneal pigment was analyzed by confocal microscopy and a lamellar corneal biopsy.


RESULTS
Confocal microscopy showed the pigment to be highly reflective material in the corneal stroma with greatest density anteriorly. Histologic examination revealed the pigment to be iron with a diagnosis consistent with corneal siderosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Corneal biopsy with Prussian blue established siderosis as the etiology of corneal pigmentation. A short delay in the removal of the foreign body contributed to the development of siderosis. The location of the foreign body on the iris may account for the predominant corneal involvement and relative sparing of the retina. Confocal microscopy may be useful in the evaluation of corneal siderosis.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9057, USA.
S Robert
SR
Witherspoon
R Nick
RN
Hogan
W Matthew
WM
Petroll
V Vinod
VV
Mootha
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005107:Explosions; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007498:Iris / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012806:Siderosis / Q000175:diagnosis*