Lipid Keratopathy: Histopathology, Major Differential Diagnoses and The Importance of Clinical Correlation

Lipid keratopathy (LK) is a rare ophthalmological condition characterized by a progressive reduction in visual acuity caused by corneal opacification due to central lipid accumulation. LK is characterized by lipid deposits, cholesterol clefts, and neovascularization (NV) leading to disruption in cor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diagnostics (Basel) 2023-05, Vol.13 (9), p.1628
Main Authors: Knez, Nora, Walkenhorst, Molly, Haeri, Mohammad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cholesterol
Conflicts of interest
corneal arcus
corneal neovascularisation
Corneal transplantation
Disease
Edema
Eye surgery
Health aspects
herpes zoster keratitis
Histochemistry
Inflammation
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lipid keratopathy
Lipids
Pathology
Patients
Schnyder corneal dystrophy
vision loss
Visual acuity
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Summary:Lipid keratopathy (LK) is a rare ophthalmological condition characterized by a progressive reduction in visual acuity caused by corneal opacification due to central lipid accumulation. LK is characterized by lipid deposits, cholesterol clefts, and neovascularization (NV) leading to disruption in corneal optical quality. LK classification includes a primary and secondary form which depend on pre-existing corneal or systemic disorders and the evidence of NV. Secondary LK is typically associated with a prior occurrence of herpetic infection, such as herpes zoster keratitis. Patients with LK usually present with progressive vision loss and dense cream-colored corneal opacification. Treatment modalities include conservative and surgical approaches focused on corneal NV elimination. When evaluating corneal lipidosis, it is crucial to consider a range of differential diagnoses, including corneal arcus, Schnyder corneal dystrophy, and other corneal deposit conditions. We report a case of a 62-year-old male with herpes zoster keratitis complicated with LK. He presented with painless progressive vision loss and corneal scarring, which raised suspicion about LK diagnosis. This paper emphasizes the importance of correlating clinical and histological findings for accurate LK diagnosis.
ISSN:2075-4418
2075-4418
DOI:10.3390/diagnostics13091628