title: Spontaneous resolution of corneal oedema following Descemet's detachment.
abstract: We report a case of spontaneous resolution of corneal oedema in the presence of a large persistent Descemet's detachment in a 71-year-old woman. Detachment of Descemet's membrane occurred during phacoemulsification surgery and produced significant corneal oedema. The patient declined surgical repair. Six months later the corneal oedema resolved and in vivo confocal microscopy showed endothelial cells on the posterior stroma in the region of the detachment. Endothelial cell hypertrophy, migration and redistribution were thought to be responsible for reversal of the corneal oedema. Experimental evidence and clinical studies raise the possibility that limited endothelial cell proliferation may occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of New South Wales at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. s.watson@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Gus
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abiad
authors.forename: Minas T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Coroneo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000293:injuries*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012421:Rupture