Corneal melanocytes in aniridia.

Abstract

To the Editor. —The described clinical corneal findings associated with aniridia include a vascularized peripheral subepithelial membrane, which may progress centripetally to diminished vision.1Keratopathic changes, confirmed histopathologically, suggest that some changes are congenital and some are acquired.2Recently, the role of neural crest in the development of the cornea has been reviewed.3We herein describe an infant with bilateral aniridia, congenital glaucoma, and total bilateral corneal opacification, who underwent a penetrating keratoplasty. Histopathologic findings of the recipient corneal button confirm probable neural crest maldevelopment in the pathogenesis of keratopathy of aniridia. Report of a Case. —A baby girl was delivered at 37 weeks of gestation. The pregnancy had been complicated only by a successfully treated premature labor four weeks before delivery. There was no family history of ocular problems. At birth, she was noted to have cloudy corneas, which measured 13 mm in diameter. Further evaluation