Corneal Argyrosis Associated with Silver Soldering

Abstract

We report a patient who developed corneal argyrosis secondary to occupational silver soldering. Clinically, the cornea was notable for a green-brown discoloration localized to Descemet's membrane by slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Silver particles were identified within the anterior three eighths of Descemet's membrane by light and electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis. To our knowledge, the association between corneal argyrosis and silver soldering has not been previously reported.