Corneal elastosis in lattice corneal dystrophy: a clinicopathologic report.

The corneal button of a patient with lattice corneal dystrophy and the clinical features of elastotic degeneration was subjected to histochemical and electron microscopic examination. The elastotic material possesses distinct clinical and histological characteristics, in particular its ability to autofluorescence. This material stained positive with Verhoeff-van Gieson (elastic stain), negative to alizarin red (calcium stain), and was insensitive to elastase digestion. The characteristic electron microscopic picture of elastotic tissue and amyloid was also found. The clinical implications of elastotic degeneration are discussed.