Descemet membrane detachment after ocular chemical burns: case series and review of literature

Abstract

Background: Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) is a rare complication after ocular chemical injury and its pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we reported three cases of DMD with traction demonstrated on Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT). Case presentation: Two patients sustained ocular chemical injury with 50% sodium hydroxide and one patient with hydrochloric acid 10%. ASOCT revealed detached Descemet's membrane in the inferior quadrant at 40 days, 36 days and 30 days after the injury respectively. Apart from receiving conservative treatment, the first case received intracameral tamponade with 12% C3F8 gas and the third case underwent amniotic membrane transplantation with symblepharon ring. However, DMD persisted in all the cases. Conclusions: The atypical features of DMD on anterior segment optical coherence tomography in our cases suggested the presence of an inflammatory component caused adhesions and traction to Descemet's membrane and prevented reattachment of DMD even with gas tamponade.

Keywords

• descemet's membrane detachment
• ocular alkali burn
• ocular acid burn