[Treatment of band keratopathy with EDTA (author's transl)]

Six eyes with band keratopathy were treated with ethylenediamintetraacetacid (EDTA). The treatment is simple, shows no harmful complications and may replace corneal grafting. EDTA treatment can not be successful if a pannus or hyalin deposits impede contact between EDTA and the calcium deposition. Histopathologic examination suggests that the basement membrane of the corneal epithelium is the primary focus of cristallisation of the calcium salt. Even in long standing cases of band keratopathy only the most superficial layers of the cornea are involved.