Lipid Keratopathy: An Electron Microscopic Study

Light and electron microscopic studies were carried out on a specimen of early lipid keratopathy obtained at the time of lamellar keratoplasty. The corneal stroma was heavily vascularized. Blood vessels were abnormal, with dense bodies in the endothelial cell cytoplasm and prominent reduplication of basement membranes. Lipid was present both intracellularly and extracellularly, resulting in marked stromal disorganization. Keratocytes showed degenerative changes. Abnormal nerve bundles were present in the midportion of corneal stroma. The cytoplasm of Schwann cells surrounding unmyelinated axons contained dense lysosomes and was irregularly idented by vacuolated, electron-dense amorphous material. Lymphocytes and plasma cells were numerous between corneal lamellae, and macrophages partially surrounded vessels.