title: Nontraumatic corneal perforation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the predisposing conditions, treatments, and visual outcomes of nontraumatic corneal perforations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted of all nontraumatic corneal perforations seen between January 1992 and December 1998, with > or = 3 months of follow-up, at the Cornea Service Wills Eye Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 40 nontraumatic corneal perforations was analyzed. Sixty-two percent of the cases were female. At presentation, 35 of 40 eyes (87.5%) had best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse. The most common diseases associated with perforations were keratoconjunctivitis sicca (12 eyes, 30%), bacterial keratitis (6 eyes, 15%), exposure keratopathy (5 eyes, 12.5%), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis (4 eyes, 10%). Visual acuity improved > or = 2 Snellen lines in 3 of 8 eyes (37.5%) treated with penetrating keratoplasty, 5 of 14 eyes (35.7%) treated with tissue adhesive, and 1 of 12 eyes (8.3%) given medical treatment. After allowing for the different levels of presenting vision, treatment modality was not significantly related to final visual outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is the most common underlying disease associated with nontraumatic corneal perforation. Corneal perforations were managed successfully using tissue adhesive, medical therapy, or penetrating keratoplasty. Treatment depended on the characteristics of the perforation and on the visual potential of the eye.
authors.affiliation: Cornea Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lekskul
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Fracht
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rapuano
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Laibson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D014014:Tissue Adhesives