Corneal iron depoit after laer in itu keratomileui

PURPOE: To report the occurrence and feature of corneal iron line depoition after laer in itu keratomileui (LAIK). METHOD: We evaluated 83 eye undergoing LAIK. Corneal iron line depoition wa analyzed with repect to preoperative pherical equivalent, attempted correction, and potoperative time interval. REULT: Thirty-five (42.2%) of 83 eye diplayed a ditinctive brown-colored corneal iron line of variable denity in a ring or patch configuration near the margin of the ablated zone in the overlying corneal flap epithelium. The appearance of thi iron line correlated poitively with time after urgery (>3 month) and preoperative pherical equivalent (>−4.5 diopter). CONCLUION: Corneal iron line depoition in a ring or patch can be aociated with previou LAIK urgery. Thi iron depoition within the margin of the ablated zone may offer inight into the dynamic of epithelial cell hyperplaia a well a baal cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration after LAIK.