Bilateral and massive lipoidal infiltration of the cornea (secondary lipoidal degeneration)

A 41-year-old white man presented with bilateral white infiltration of the cornea from limbus to limbus. Extensive examination revealed no manifestations of disorders of lipid metabolism and the patient gave no history of previous ocular disease. VDRL and other serological tests were negative. The corneal button removed by penetrating keratoplasty from the right eye was studied by light microscopy, histochemistry and electron microscopy. The light microscopic appearance was consistent with lipoidal degeneration of the cornea associated with stromal vascularization and chronic keratitis, more likely a secondary lipoidal degeneration. Cholesterol clefts were seen in all levels of the stroma focally surrounded by a foreign body giant cell reaction. Lipid vacuoles were observed in extracellular and intracellular locations within histiocytes and fibroblasts in vascularized and inflammed areas. Lipid stains disclosed cholesterol crystals, neutral fats, and phospholipids.