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Case Reports
. 2016 Jul-Sep;23(3):259-61.
doi: 10.4103/0974-9233.171778.

Removal of Retained Descemets Membrane Using Femtosecond Laser

Affiliations
Case Reports

Removal of Retained Descemets Membrane Using Femtosecond Laser

William May et al. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2016 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

We present a unique method of retrocorneal membrane removal with a femtosecond laser (FSL). A 22-year-old male who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty had a retained retrocorneal membrane and a double anterior chamber postoperatively. The membrane was dissected completely with the FSL and the free-floating membrane was removed. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of retained Descemets membrane (DM). There was improvement in uncorrected visual acuity from 20/300 to 20/50. Central corneal endothelial cell count was 810 cells/mm(2) preoperatively and 778 cells/mm(2) postoperatively. Inadvertent retention of DM may be safely treated with the FSL. Clarity and viability of the existing graft can be maintained.

Keywords: Cornea Transplant; Descemets Membrane; Femtosecond Laser.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Slitbeam microscopic image shows attached, clear penetrating keratoplasty graft with old pigmented keratic precipitates. A retrocorneal membrane with folds and a “double anterior chamber” is apparent. (b) Anterior segment optical coherence tomography image shows a retrocorneal membrane with apparent double anterior chamber. (c) A centered and round membranotomy in a retrocorneal membrane is apparent postoperatively. (d) Anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy image shows peripheral segments of retained Descemets membrane postoperatively

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