Corneal Copper Deposits In A Breast Cancer Survivor: A 5-Year Follow-Up
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POANT029 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/26sf-1572
Authors: Dr Athanasios Pappas* 1 , Dr Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos 2 , Dr Maria Pavlaki 1 , A/Prof. Ioannis Tsinopoulos 3 , A/Prof. Nikolaos Ziakas 3 , A/Prof. Sofia Androudi 1
1University Eye Clinic,University General Hospital of Larissa,Larissa,Greece, 2Ophthalmology Department,St Helens Hospital, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust,St Helens,United Kingdom, 3Department of Ophthalmology,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece
Purpose
This study aims to describe an extremely rare case of corneal copper deposition due to elevated IgG levels following systemic malignancy.
Setting
The study was performed at a single, tertiary-care center, the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece, involving a patient treated in the outpatient ophthalmology department.
Methods
Case report of a 49-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer treated with radiation therapy, tamoxifen, and gonadorelin, who presented in 2019 for asymptomatic “color change” in both eyes.
Results
Slit-lamp biomicroscopy disclosed central golden-brown corneal deposits at the level of Descemet’s membrane, indicative of copper accumulation. During a 5-year follow-up, deposits increased in density and extended peripherally, while visual acuity remained 20/20 bilaterally. Normal ceruloplasmin, liver function tests, and urine copper levels ruled out Wilson’s disease. Elevated IgG kappa levels suggested an underlying monoclonal gammopathy. The patient was referred for a hematologic evaluation but declined further testing.
Conclusions
Only a limited number of cases with central corneal copper deposits have been described in the literature, all of which are associated either with multiple myeloma or with monoclonal gammopathies of unknown significance. Presumably the copper binds to alternated IgG with high affinity and the accumulated copper is deposited in the central Descemet’s membrane. Recognizing this characteristic clinical appearance is essential, as it may indicate an undiagnosed hematologic disorder requiring systemic evaluation.