Three cases of corneal perforation caused by noncontact tonometry.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to report 3 clinical features of corneal perforation induced in 3 separate patients by noncontact tonometry (NCT).


METHODS
Three cases are discussed along with the relevant literature.


RESULTS
The first patient had a necrotic cornea for a month after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and developed a central corneal perforation induced by NCT. The wound in the first patient opened in the corneal center, and air bubble filled the anterior chamber. The wound was self-sealed after the administration of antibiotic eyedrops for 4 weeks. The second patient developed a traumatic corneal wound dehiscence after PK by NCT and underwent graft resuturing. The third patient developed expulsive choroidal hemorrhage after extracapsular cataract surgery by NCT and underwent the wound repair, iris reposition, anterior chamber reformation, and anterior vitrectomy the same day.


CONCLUSIONS
NCT does not seem sufficiently safe in patients with a thin and necrotic cornea, or suture loosening after PK during the early postoperative period.
Kim
Eun Chul
EC
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Man Soo
MS
D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D002832:Choroid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006988:Hyphema / Q000209:etiology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology; D019233:Retreatment; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D013537:Sutures; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*