Calcific band keratopathy associated with the use of topical steroid-phosphate preparations.

OBJECTIVE

To report a possible adverse effect of topical steroid-phosphate preparations and to identify factors that may contribute to the development of this effect.

DESIGN

The medical records of five patients who developed calcium deposition in the cornea were reviewed and analyzed for possible contributing factors.

PATIENTS: Five cases of calcium deposition in the cornea associated with the use of topical steroid-phosphate preparations are described. Scrapings from the cornea and/or specimens obtained at keratoplasty were available in all cases. These cases had the following characteristics in common: use of steroid-phosphate preparations (n = 5); multiple topical drops (n = 5); penetrating keratoplasty (n = 3); presence of epithelial defects (n = 4); history of herpetic stromal keratitis (n = 3) [corrected]; and history of iritis (n = 3). A hypothesis explaining calcium deposition in association with steroid-phosphate preparations is presented.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend withdrawal of steroid-phosphate preparations in patients who develop band keratopathy.