[A case of corneal lactoferrin amyloidosis secondary to trichiasis].

Purpose: A case of corneal lactoferrin amyloidosis secondary to trichiasis is reported.

Case: A 30-year-old male suffered from trichiasis with an elevated gray whitish lesion just under the center of the cornea in his right eye. The lesion had an irregular surface.

Method: We excised the corneal lesion, and studied the excised corneal lesion morphologically.

Result: The deposit observed just under the corneal epithelial layer was positive for Congo red staining, and showed dichroism under polarizing microscopy. The deposit also showed a immunoreactivity against anti-human lactoferrin antibody.

Conclusion: The morphological study proved that the deposits under the corneal lesion were derived from lactoferrin. Long term injury of the corneal surface by trichiasis may lead to the deposition and structural changes of lactoferrin originating from tears.