CORNEAL IRON LINES ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTRASTROMAL CORNEAL RING

Corneal epithelial iron lines commonly occur, and their shape is chara cteristically influenced by the underlying corneal surface topography. We studied a pattern of iron deposition, observed after implantation of the Intrastromal Corneal Ring (Kera Vision, Inc., Santa Clara, Cali fornia). In five of ten patients undergoing placement of the Intrastro mal Corneal Ring, an arcuate pattern of epithelial iron deposition was observed eight to 12 months postoperatively. There was no significant clinical or topographic difference over time among the corneas of pat ients who developed an iron line vs those who did not. Of the five pat ients with an arcuate epithelial iron line, three underwent explantati on of their Intrastromal Corneal Ring at 12 months according to the st udy protocol. Iron deposition, either reverted to a Hudson-Stahli patt ern or disappeared in each of these three patients.