A New Treatment for Photophobia in Posttraumatic Aniridia

Purpose Using staining pigments with which we had gained experience in dermatography (medical tattooing) treatments of leucoma corneae, a new approach was developed to create an artificial iris-like staining at the mid-stromal level of the cornea to treat photophobia in a patient with posttraumatic aniridia. Methods After a central 4-mm half-depth trephination, a lamellar dissection of the corneal stroma toward the limbus was performed. A combination of colored pigments was introduced into this midstromal space, until a light blue artificial iris (to match the contralateral eye) with adequate blocking of light was created. Results A stable artificial iris was created in the mid-stromal level of the cornea. Conclusion Dermatography pigments are stable in the corneal stroma and are useful to treat photophobia in aniridia following trauma.