Corneal and conjunctival deposits in monoclonal gammopathy.

An IgG kappa monoclonal gammaglobulinopathy was discovered during investigation of long-standing corneal deposits. The deposits were located between the basal epithelial cells, in the anterior layer of Bowman's membrane and in keratocytes. This is the third reported case of corneal deposits associated with Bence Jones proteinuria and the fifth case of corneal deposits associated with crystalline inclusions within plasma cells of the bone marrow. A biopsy of the buccal mucosa showed intraepithelial inclusions. Immunoelectrophoresis of the tears revealed a small amount of secretory IgA and a moderate amount of IgG, practically all kappa light chains.