Late onset Descemet's membrane detachment: 15 years after limbal lensectomy with vitrectomy for ROP

ABSTRACT

A case of stage 4B retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after successful retinal reattachment surgery with maintained vision presented with hazy cornea with spontaneous Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) 15 years after the surgery, requiring Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) to restore vision. There are reports of late spontaneous DMD after phacoemulsification or previous corneal surgeries. This report is unique as there is no published literature of spontaneous DMD after limbal surgery for ROP when searched in PubMed. The immature Descemet's membrane (DM), surgical intervention and changes in immature DM with age would have contributed to spontaneous DMD and warrant a long-term follow-up of premature kids.