Perfluoropropane (C3F8) injection for Descemet's membrane detachment in cataract surgery.

Background: Descemet's membrane (DM) detachment is an important cause of surgery related corneal edema that may lead to corneal decompensations and marked reduction in visual acuity if not identified and treated promptly. We prescent a case of postoperative Descemet's membrane detachment that occurred after complicated manual small incisional cataract surgery. Descemetopexy in post-cataract surgery descemet's membrane detachment has not yet been reported in Nepal.

Methods: A 45 year old female underwent manual small incision cataract surgery of the right eye. Intraoperatively, there was descemet's membrane detachment so: anterior chamber tamponade with air was done. She was discharged with a visual acuity of 6/24. But on the eighth postoperative day, her visual acuity had decreased to 1/60 in right eye with corneal edema, detached descemet's membrane and descemet's folds. Hence was re-admitted for repositioning of descemet's membrane with C3F8 (14% gas mixed with air). The procedure successfully reattached the descemet's membrane. Corneal edema regressed and the gas bubble resolved after 15th day of the surgery. Patient's visual right acuity was 6/36 in right eye and the intraocular pressure was 12mmhg.

Conclusions: DM detachment should not be taken lightly because of the potential for grave visual outcome. One needs to examine carefully, as the signs of DM detachment can be subtle and may be masked by corneal edema. During the past few years, intracameral injection with perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas has also gained increasing acceptance as an efficient and effective treatment option for Descemet's membrane detachments.