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.