Intrastromal noninflammatory bacterial colonization of a corneal graft.

Progressive branching, needlelike stromal opacities were observed within a corneal transplant. Analysis of the corneal button by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy disclosed a localized epithelial ingrowth into the stroma at a suture tract accompanied by intrastromal pockets of gram-positive cocci extending across the cornea. No inflammatory reaction was found in the areas of bacterial colonization. To our knowledge, noninflammatory bacterial colonization of the stroma of a corneal transplant has not been previously described.