Compound nevus of the cornea simulating a foreign body.

Objective: To report a corneal nevus, without conjunctival involvement, that clinically simulated a metallic foreign body.

Methods: Case report with clinicopathologic correlation.

Results: A 22-year-old man developed a superficial pigmented lesion of his left cornea. It was suspected to be a chronically retained foreign body, but a melanocytic neoplasm could not be excluded. The lesion was removed by lamellar keratectomy and proved histopathologically to be a compound nevus of the cornea, without conjunctival involvement.

Conclusions: Melanocytic nevus can rarely occur in the cornea. Involvement of the cornea by a melanocytic lesion does not necessarily imply a malignant melanoma.