Outcomes of air descemetopexy for Descemet membrane detachment after cataract surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the outcomes of post-cataract surgery descemetopexy for Descemet membrane detachment using intracameral air injection.

Setting: Cornea Department, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.

Design: Interventional case series.

Methods: The clinical data of patients who had descemetopexy from August 2010 to February 2011 for Descemet membrane detachment after cataract surgery using intracameral (100%) air injection were reviewed after institutional review board and ethics committee approval was obtained.

Results: Of the 14 patients, 9 had manual small-incision cataract surgery using the Blumenthal and Moisseiev technique, 4 had phacoemulsification, and 1 had combined phacoemulsification with trabeculectomy. The mean duration between cataract surgery and descemetopexy was 19.5 days (range 2 to 49 days). Successful reattachment of Descemet membrane and resolution of corneal edema occurred in all except 1 patient. Two patients had elevated intraocular pressure 1 day postoperatively due to appositional angle closure in 1 and pupillary block in the other. Of the 13 patients with successful Descemet membrane reattachment, the corrected distance visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 11 cases, 20/80 in 1 case, and 20/160 in 1 case. Three of the 13 patients had comorbidity factors affecting vision.

Conclusion: Air descemetopexy was a safe option in the management of Descemet detachment after cataract surgery.

Financial disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.