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Published on: November 11, 2025
In vivo confocal microscopy in a patient with keratopigmentation (corneal tattooing)
Akira Kobayashi1, Kazuhisa Sugiyama
1Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan. kobaya@kenroku.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Purpose:
To report in vivo corneal confocal microscopic findings in a patient with keratopigmentation (corneal tattooing).
Patients And Methods:
A 64-year-old woman who received keratopigmentation for bilateral corneal opacity 53 years ago was examined by confocal microscope.
Results:
By confocal microscopy, scattered highly reflective particles in a geographic pattern were observed in the superficial stroma near Bowman layer. In addition, clusters of highly reflective granules were in the mid- to superficial stroma.
Conclusions:
In vivo confocal microscopy can be used for monitoring keratopigmentation. The findings may serve to distinguish keratopigmentations from other pigmented corneal lesions.
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