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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Research in Corneal Opacity Treatment and Regeneration
Published on: August 4, 2023
Spontaneous regression of congenital corneal opacity
Sooyeon Choe1, Chang Ho Yoon1, Mee Kum Kim1,2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea.
Purpose:
To determine the incidence of spontaneous regression of congenital corneal opacity (CCO) and identify clinical factors associated with the regression.
Methods:
Medical records and anterior segment photographs were reviewed of 57 eyes in 35 patients with CCO that were not related to congenital glaucoma, tumors, infection, trauma, or metabolic disorders and were followed up without corneal transplantation for longer than one year at Seoul National University Hospital. Spontaneous regression of corneal opacity was defined as a decrease in corneal opacity significant enough for visual axis clearance. Data on demographics, systemic, and ocular characteristics were collected and compared between patients who had spontaneous regression of CCO and those who did not.
Results:
Spontaneous regression of corneal opacity developed in 32 eyes (22 patients, 56.1%) out of 57 CCO eyes (35 patients) at the mean 8.2 ± 5.4 months of age (the median 6.7 months). Absence of combined ocular anomalies such as iris anomaly, lens opacity, and peripheral corneal vascularization was significantly associated with the regression of opacity.
Conclusions:
Corneal opacity can spontaneously regress in 56.1% of eyes with CCO during the first year of life. Careful follow-up with amblyopia management can be one of treatment options for CCO.
