[Corneal tattooing. A series of 14 case studies].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the efficacy of a little-used surgical method: corneal tattooing, using a dermograph to hide unsightly corneal scars on nonfunctional eyes.


METHODS
Retrospective study of 14 eyes of 13 patients treated by tattooing the corneal surface, by directly introducing the pigments into the corneal stroma using a dermograph. The effectiveness of tattooing was evaluated by pigmentation homogeneity and patient satisfaction. Tolerance was evaluated by the scarring at the 7th day and ocular inflammation. The average follow-up was 18 months.


RESULTS
Fourteen eyes presented an unaesthetic, neovascularized major corneal edema (79% traumatism). In 12 eyes, the treatment was homogeneous with a very satisfactory aesthetic result for the patient. One eye presented minor complications of pigmentary migration. One eye presented a corneal perforation 40 days after the procedure on a very pathological cornea.


CONCLUSIONS
Corneal tattooing using a dermograph is a little-used technique since changes in corneal transplantation indications but is also a simple and inexpensive alternative for corneal scar treatment on nonfunctional eyes.
Rocher
N
N
Service d'ophtalmologie, Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France. nicorocher@gmail.com
Hirst
L
L
Renard
G
G
Doat
M
M
Bourges
J-L
JL
Mancel
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix; D003315:Cornea; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013653:Tattooing; D055815:Young Adult