Cholesterolosis of the anterior chamber.

The clinicopathologic findings in eight eyes with cholesterolosis of the anterior chamber are presented. In five patients the cholesterol was present as an anterior chamber deposit or free-floating crystals, or both, and was recognized clinically. In two patients the anterior chamber cholesterol had incited a granulomatous inflammatory reaction and was mistaken clinically for lipid keratopathy. Anterior chamber crystals were an incidental laboratory finding in the final patient. Intraocular cholesterol may be present as free crystals or contained within foreign body granulomatous inflammation, macrophages, or fibrous tissue. Possible sources of anterior chamber cholesterol crystals are discussed. In most cases they seem to be derived from the breakdown of intraocular hemorrhage.