Chonnam Med J.  2004 Dec;40(4):222-225.

A Case of Surgical Repair of Extensive Descemet's Membrane Detachment during Cataract Surgery

• Lim SK
• Seo MS
• Park YG
• Yoon KC

Abstract

We report a case of surgical repair of detached Descemet's membrane that was developed during cataract sugery. A 65-year-old female patient was admitted due to corneal edema and opacity resulting from extensive detachment of Descemet's membrane that had been developed during cataract surgery. Two weeks after the original surgery, we performed transcorneal horizontal mattress suture to fixate Descemet's membrane to the cornea in combination with intracameral air injection. Postoperatively, Descemet's membrane was reattached, and corneal edema completely subsided and corned opacity disappeared in a trace at 6 months after. However, the wrinkles in Descemet's membrane remained in the periphery of cornea. This case demonstrates in a trace that surgical repair may be needed in case of extensive Descemet's membrane detachment. Also, a long-term follow-up is recommended to assess permanent residual damages including wrinkles, stromal fibrosis, and bullous keratopathy.

Keyword

Descemet's membrane; Cataract; Corneal edema; Corneal opacity

MeSH Terms

Aged
Cataract*
Cornea
Corneal Edema
Corneal Opacity
Descemet Membrane*
Female
Fibrosis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Sutures
Zea mays