Outcomes of air descemetopexy for Descemet membrane detachment after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE To analyze the outcomes of post-cataract surgery descemetopexy for Descemet membrane detachment using intracameral air injection. SETTING Cornea Department, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India. DESIGN Interventional case series. METHODS The clinical data of patients who had descemetopexy from August 2010 to February 2011 for Descemet membrane detachment after cataract surgery using intracameral (100%) air injection were reviewed after institutional review board and ethics committee approval was obtained. RESULTS Of the 14 patients, 9 had manual small-incision cataract surgery using the Blumenthal and Moisseiev technique, 4 had phacoemulsification, and 1 had combined phacoemulsification with trabeculectomy. The mean duration between cataract surgery and descemetopexy was 19.5 days (range 2 to 49 days). Successful reattachment of Descemet membrane and resolution of corneal edema occurred in all except 1 patient. Two patients had elevated intraocular pressure 1 day postoperatively due to appositional angle closure in 1 and pupillary block in the other. Of the 13 patients with successful Descemet membrane reattachment, the corrected distance visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 11 cases, 20/80 in 1 case, and 20/160 in 1 case. Three of the 13 patients had comorbidity factors affecting vision. CONCLUSION Air descemetopexy was a safe option in the management of Descemet detachment after cataract surgery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.