Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Bilateral severe progressive idiopathic lipid keratopathy

  • Case Report
  • Published:
International Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To report a case with bilateral progressive lipid keratopathy.

Methods

A 44-year-old healthy man without previous ocular disease presented with bilateral lipid keratopathy which was more severe in his right eye. Evidence of hyperlipidemia or clinical corneal neovascularization was not apparent.

Results

Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was performed, initially in the right eye and four years later in the left eye. Histochemical examination showed focal stromal vascularization and staining for lipids. During the follow-up period, one episode of graft rejection occurred in each eye; both responded to systemic steroid therapy.

Conclusion

Severe bilateral progressive lipid degeneration can develop in previously healthy corneas in healthy patients without underlying pathology. The nature of the process remains unclear. When PKP is performed and neovascularization is identified in the removed corneal button, close follow-up is advisable because corneal grafts can be prone to rejection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alfonso E, Arrellanes L, Boruchoff SA et al (1988) Idiopathic bilateral lipid keratopathy. Br J Ophthalmol 72:338–343

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cogan DG, Kuwabara T (1958) Lipid keratopathy and atheroma. Circulation 18:519–525

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Croxatto JO, Dodds CM, Dodds R (1985) Bilateral and massive lipoidal infiltration of the cornea (secondary lipoidal degeneration). Ophthalmology 92:1686–1690

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shapiro LA, Farkas TG (1977) Lipid keratopathy following corneal hydrops. Arch Ophthalmol 95:456–458

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Morisawa M, Yamagami S, Inoki T et al (2003) Bilateral centripetal lipid keratopathy with diffuse anterior scleritis. Acta Opthalmol Scand 81:202–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fine BS, Townsend WM, Zimmerman LE et al (1974) Primary lipoidal degeneration of the cornea. Am J Ophthalmol 78:12–23

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schaeffer EJ (1984) Clinical, biochemical, and genetic features in familial disorders of high density lipoprotein deficiency. Arteriosclerosis 4:303–322

    Google Scholar 

  8. Baum JL (1969) Cholesterol keratopathy. Am J Ophthalmol 67:372–375

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Barishak YR, Stein R (1974) Lipid keratopathy. Ann Ophthalmol 6:377–380

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Yuen HKL, Rassier CE, Jardeleza MSR et al (2005) A morphologic study of Fuchs dystrophy and bullous keratopathy. Cornea 24:319–327

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Loeffler KU, Seifert P (2005) Unusual idiopathic lipid keratopathy: a newly recognized entity? Arch Ophthalmol 123:1435–1438

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Roth SI, Stock EL, Siel JM et al (1988) Pathogenesis of experimental lipid keratopathy. An ultrastructural study of an animal model system. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 29:1544–1551

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. L’Esperance FA Jr (1985) Clinical photocoagulation with the organic dye laser. A preliminary communication. Arch Ophthalmol 103:1312–1316

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gordon YJ, Mann RK, Mah TS et al (2002) Fluorescein-potentiated argon laser therapy improves symptoms and appearance of corneal neovascularization. Cornea 21:770–773

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Brooks BJ, Ambati BK, Marcus DM et al (2004) Photodynamic therapy for corneal neovascularisation and lipid degeneration. Br J Ophthalmol 88:840

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Pillai CT, Dua HS, Hossain P (2000) Fine needle diathermy occlusion of corneal vessels. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:2148–2153

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jaime Levy.

Additional information

The authors have no proprietary interest in any of the materials or techniques used in this study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Levy, J., Benharroch, D. & Lifshitz, T. Bilateral severe progressive idiopathic lipid keratopathy. Int Ophthalmol 26, 181–184 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-007-9032-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-007-9032-2

Keywords

Navigation