The retrocorneal ridge in syphilitic and herpetic interstitial keratitis: an electron-microscopic study.

The retrocorneal linear ridges in corneas from one case of syphilitic and two cases of herpetic interstitial keratitis were examined by electron microscopy. The hyaline ridge in syphilitic keratitis showed duplicated Descemet's membrane with focal excrescences of basement membrane-like substances. The hyaline ridge in herpetic keratitis showed a triangular area of increased fibrous tissues in the deeper stroma adjacent to Descemet's membrane with no focal excrescences of Descemet's membrane.