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Case Reports
. 2024 Apr 8;15(1):303-309.
doi: 10.1159/000537741. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

Phacoemulsification Wound Burn and Its Management

Rosa Giglio  1 , Alex Lucia Vinciguerra  1 , Leandro Inferrera  1 , Daniele Tognetto  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Phacoemulsification Wound Burn and Its Management

Rosa Giglio et al. Case Rep Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Introduction: The production of ultrasonic energy during phacoemulsification is associated with heat generation that could damage ocular tissues, particularly at the corneoscleral wound site.

Case presentation: This study presents an 89-year-old patient with senile hypermature cataract and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy developing severe thermal corneoscleral injury during phacoemulsification. At presentation, visual acuity was finger count at 40 cm and there was a 1 × 2-mm area of corneal melting at the corneal tunnel with diffuse corneal oedema. After 1 month, a temporal circular corneal patch graft was applied to the corneal burn. A penetrating keratoplasty was performed 16 months after the first surgery.

Conclusion: Corneal surgery, including lamellar patch grafts and full-thickness penetrating grafts, could be used, when necessary, to restore the cornea's integrity. These procedures could eliminate corneal scarring, decrease astigmatism, and improve vision in patients with phacoemulsification burns.

Keywords: Cataract extraction; Penetrating keratoplasty; Phacoemulsification; Thermal injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Anterior segment photography of the right eye showing a severe phacoemulsification-induced thermal injury to the corneoscleral wound site at the time of cataract extraction.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Anterior segment photography of the right eye showing the corneal patch in place and sealed.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Anterior segment photography of the right eye after PK.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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