Central corneal iron line arising from hyperopic orthokeratology

Abstract

Mt Pleasant, Queensland, AustraliaE-mail: bradkirkwood@bigpond.comSubmitted: 3 August 2010Revised: 10 October 2010Accepted for publication: 10 November2010A corneal iron line, viewed as a faint yellowto dark brown deposit in the epitheliallayer, may occur in an otherwise normalcornea or in association with corneal con-ditions and post-corneal surgical proce-dures. Commonly, a horizontal iron line(Hudson–Stahli line) can be located inthe lower third of the cornea. Characteris-tic iron lines may also occur at the base ofthe cone in keratoconus (Fleischer ring),just inferior to a trabeculectomy bleb(Ferry’s line) and at the advancing edge ofa pterygium (Stocker’s line). Indeed, withany pigmented corneal changes, cliniciansshould be mindful of vortex kerato-pathy associated with systemic conditions(Fabry’s disease) and oral medication (forexample, amiodarone).Iron deposits have been reported widelywith refractive corneal procedures such aslaser