Corneal iron line following LASIK with epithelial ingrowth.

PURPOSE: To report a new corneal iron line following keratorefractive surgery.

METHODS

Case report and review of the literature. A 51-year-old man developed epithelial ingrowth after otherwise uneventful LASIK surgery. The patient, satisfied with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/25 and otherwise asymptomatic, declined to have his flap relifted to treat the ingrowth.

RESULTS

Six months postoperatively a corneal iron line was noted at the leading edge of the epithelial ingrowth. Vision remained stable.

CONCLUSIONS

: Epithelial iron lines have been reported with a number of conditions, including post-refractive procedures. This is the first report of an iron line associated with epithelial ingrowth following LASIK.