J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2021 Jun;62(6):834-841. 10.3341/jkos.2021.62.6.834.

Case Series of Descemet Membrane Detachment Associated with Cataract Surgery

• Chung W
• Jo YJ
• Lee JS

• KMID: 2516812
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2021.62.6.834

Abstract

Purpose
We report the therapeutic efficacy of using 18% SF₆) injection into the anterior chamber or interrupted corneal sutures for Descemet membrane detachment related to cataract surgery.
Case summary
Case 1) A 74-year-old female showed localized detachment of Descemet membrane of the cornea on the first day after cataract surgery on the left eye; her visual acuity was hand motion only. Non-expansible sulfur hexafluoride (18% SF₆) gas was injected into the anterior chamber to treat the detachment and achieved improvement of vision due to relief of the corneal edema and adhesion of the Descemet membrane. Case 2) A 76-year-old male had poor visual acuity of the right eye after cataract surgery performed at a local eye clinic. Folding and detachment of the Descemet membrane was found before the postoperative 3-months follow-up. We injected 0.3 mL 18% SF₆ gas into the anterior chamber twice. The corneal edema disappeared and visual acuity improved. Case 3) A 75-year-old female who had undergone cataract surgery was suspected of having Descemet membrane detachment. She was injected with 18% SF₆ into the anterior chamber twice, but the detached membrane persisted in the lower right cornea, combined with pupillary block glaucoma. We performed interrupted corneal sutures of the detached Descemet membrane, and resolution of the detachment was confirmed by corneal optical coherence tomography.
Conclusions
Re-attachment of Descemet membrane of the cornea can be obtained by performing repeated injections of 0.3-0.4 mL of non-expansible 18% SF₆ gas, or by direct corneal suture in cases of persistent detachment.

Keyword

Cataract surgery; Corneal suture; Descemet membrane detachment; Sulfur hexafluoride gas