C-type Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Using Cryopreserved Leftover Cornea for Terrien's Marginal Degeneration

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a case of Terrien's marginal degeneration treated with C-type anterior lamellar keratoplasty using cryopreserved leftover cornea. CASE SUMMARY: A 63-year-old female visited our clinic because of left ocular discomfort and visual deterioration over several years. The patient had +2.25 Dsph = -5.00 Dcyl × 111° of astigmatism, and best corrected visual acuity was 20/20. Microscopic slit lamp examinations revealed an approximately 10.0 mm width semilunar shaped stromal opacity with surrounding stromal lipid deposit, as well as superficial neovascularization with thinning at superior perilimbal cornea. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography confirmed extreme thinning at the opacified cornea. The patient was diagnosed with Terrien's marginal degeneration. To prevent corneal perforation, C-type anterior lamellar keratoplasty using cryopreserved leftover cornea was performed. After 18 months after operation, donor graft was successfully attached via the anterior segment optical coherence tomography and microscopic slit lamp examination and graft rejection was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: C-type anterior lamellar keratoplasty using a cryopreserved cornea can be an effective therapeutic strategy for Terrien's marginal degeneration.