Delayed-Onset Expulsive Suprachoroidal Hemorrhage Due to a Trauma after Removal of Penetrating Keratoplasty Suture

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a case of delayed-onset expulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage due to trauma after removal of a penetrating keratoplasty suture. CASE SUMMARY: A 66-year-old man had penetrating keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy performed in his left eye. After 1 year, the continuous suture was removed for adjustment of astigmatism. Four days after removal of the suture, the patient struck his left eye with the back of his hand, although at the time of injury he had no specific symptoms. Two days later, the patient noticed abrupt pain, decreased visual acuity, and massive hemorrhage in his left eye. Examination revealed an inferior wound dehiscence of approximately 8 clock hours (2 thru 10 o'clock) with prolapsed intraocular contents such as the uvea and retina. The patient underwent cornea graft resuturing with resection of ocular contents, which could not be repositioned. Although bleeding was controlled after the operation, vision was lost in his left eye. After two months, according to decrement of intraocular hematoma, the patient had a phthisis bulbi with low intraocular pressure in his left eye. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent low intraocular pressure due to wound leakage through the graft-host junction likely resulted in delayed onset of expulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage. The risk of traumatic corneal graft rupture after penetrating keratoplasty is significant and is associated with a poor visual outcome and eyeball viability. Therefore, patients should be cautioned. In addition, the importance of eye examination after trauma should be emphasized.