Cornea sparing by endoscopically guided vitreoretinal surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To report a series of eyes with acute severe corneal edema and vitreoretinal complications treated with endoscopic vitreous surgery without a keratoprosthesis to the cornea.


METHODS
Retrospective, small, noncomparative case series.


METHODS
Seven patients with unilateral acute severe corneal edema, poor view of the fundus, and vitreoretinal complications were reviewed. Five eyes were postcataract surgery, one eye was postpenetrating intraocular blunt trauma by a ferrous foreign body, and one eye had endophthalmitis.


METHODS
Vitreous surgery was performed on each eye under the guidance of endoscopy. Topical steroid treatment was administered to the cornea for several weeks after the vitreoretinal surgery, until the corneal edema had been completely resolved.


RESULTS
The edematous corneas recovered within an average of 9 weeks (range, 6-13 weeks). The preoperative visual acuity ranged from 6/90 to hand motion at 0.5 m, and the final postoperative visual acuity was 6/30 or better after an average follow-up of 14 months (range, 3-23 months).


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Endoscopic surgery for vitreoretinal complications in eyes with acute severe corneal edema can obviate keratoprosthesis and keratoplasty. (2) By minimizing further damage to the corneal endothelium, endoscopic vitreoretinal surgery might benefit corneal recovery.
Ben-nun
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Assaff Harofe Medical Center, Tzriffin, Israel.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*