[Iron deposits in cornea in confocal microscope]

The study aimed to evaluate the iron deposits in corneas in confocal microscope.

The material comprised 16 eyes which underwent photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) procedure. The structure of corneas was evaluated between 3-10 years after PRK. The visual acuity after PRK was the same as the best corrected visual acuity before the procedure. The structure of corneas was evaluated in vivo using scanning slit confocal microscopy. The confocal images of corneas in patients after PRK were compared with confocal corneal images of patients with corneal scars (2 eyes), keratoconus (2 eyes), after radial keratotomy (RK) (2 eyes) and healthy patients.

Within the central part of corneal epithelium and anterior part of stroma, the clusters of iron deposits were observed. They were round and produced different shapes. In the paracentral and peripheral part of corneas the subepithelial nerve plexus was detected. Beneath, the pattern of keratocytic nuclei, characteristic for state after PRK, was detected. In patients with corneal scars, keratoconus and after RK, the same clusters of deposits were detected. In cases of corneal scars, additionally high reflectivity of corneal structure was observed.

The iron deposits in corneal structure arise in epithelium and anterior part of corneal stroma. The iron deposits which produce different shapes have no influence on visual acuity.