Corneal edema after phacoemulsification

Abstract

Phacoemulsification is the most commonly performed cataract surgery in this era. With all the recent advances in investigations and management of cataract through phacoemulsification, most of the patients are able to achieve excellent visual outcome. Corneal edema after phacoemulsification in the immediate postoperative period often leads to patient dissatisfaction and worsening of outcome. Delayed onset corneal edema often warrants endothelial keratoplasty. This review highlights the etiopathogenesis, risk factors, and management of corneal edema in the acute phase including descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) and toxic anterior segment syndrome. Various investigative modalities such as pachymetry, specular microscopy, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, and confocal microscopy have been discussed briefly.

Figure 1

Corneal edema with increased corneal thickness

Figure 2

Localized Corneal Edema with intraocular lense in anterior chamber

Figure 3

Anterior chamber intraocular lense with Corneal edema

Figure 4

Corneal edema with descemet's membrane detachment

Figure 5

Corneal epithelial bullae formation

Figure 6

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography showing increased thickness with bullae formation

Figure 7

A case of pseudophakic corneal edema managed with Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty

Figure 8

A case of descemet's membrane detachment managed with descemetopexy with C3F8