Presentation type | E-poster |
Title | Management of epithelial downgrowth after uncomplicated cataract surgery |
Methods | Describing the management of 2 cases of epithelial downgrowth (EDG) following cataract surgery. |
Results | Both patients were referred with iridocorneal adhesions and corneal decompensation. Patient 1, a 76-year-old woman, had uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 1/10 in the left eye with a history of uneventful phacoemulsification surgery 2 years prior. Patient 2, a 74-year-old man, had an UCVA of 8/10 in the right eye after uncomplicated cataract surgery 8 years prior. Slit lamp examination of both patients showed a fibrotic retrocorneal membrane. Clinical diagnosis of EDG post-cataract surgery was established. Treatment of both patients involved synechiolysis followed by stripping of the epithelial membrane and intracameral injection of 5-FU (500 microgram/0.1mL). Histopathologic examination of the fragments of the excised membrane established the diagnosis of EDG. Patient 1 required UT-DSAEK due to corneal edema and vision loss. Patient 2 had mild corneal edema and epitheliopathy 2 weeks after 5-FU injection, managed with a wait-and-see approach. A UT-DSAEK/DMEK may be necessary if edema persists. In both cases there was no clinical evidence of recurrence of EDG. |
Conclusion | Despite modern surgical techniques EDG is sometimes seen as a rare but vision threatening complication after clear cornea cataract surgery. Intracameral 5-FU therapy proves successful as an alternative to aggressive surgical interventions to manage EDG. |
Conflict of interest | No |
Last name | VANDER EECKEN |
Initials | M |
Department | Dpt of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital |
City | Ghent, Belgium |
Last name | VAN DORPE |
Initials | J |
Department | Dpt of Pathological Anatomy, Ghent University Hospital |
City | Ghent, Belgium |
Last name | ROELS |
Initials | D |
Department | Dpt of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital |
City | Ghent, Belgium |