title: Vessel cauterization as a therapeutic adjunct in persistent disciform corneal stromal edema.
abstract: This is a case report of a symptomatic non-clearing, vascularized, disciform, corneal stromal edema with a feeder vessel that has remained refractory to medical therapy of antiviral, steroid, and antibiotics, for a period of three weeks, but showed a rapid improvement in visual acuity of 0.1 Log mar within five days of feeder vessel cauterization, together with improvement of two psychometric scales in corneal cloudiness on a scale range of 0 to 3, clinical evidence of resolution of corneal edema, and subjective resolution of the patient's symptoms. Cauterization was done under magnification with a ball cautery point warmed in a spirit lamp following topical anesthesia. This intervention may become handy in difficult non-clearing corneal edema and prevent blinding consequences, in a low-resource facility, in selected applicable cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Center, Kubwa General Hospital, Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Lasisi Akinola
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Muideen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Center, Kubwa General Hospital, Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ezeronye Ugochi
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Shiela
keywords: Cauterization; corneal edema; disciform corneal edema; embolization; feeder vessel; pannus; viral keratitis