Central corneal iron deposit after photorefractive keratectomy.

Iron lines in the corneal epithelium are well-documented clinical signs in various circumstances. After photorefractive keratectomy, a new type of iron deposit can be found: a central round spot that occurred in more than 80% of cases of 1 year after surgery. It can be recognized at the slitlamp 6 months after surgery, and its incidence is related to the amount of attempted refractive change. In otherwise clear corneas, the central iron spot is the only clinical sign of a previously performed photorefractive keratectomy.