Corneal blood staining secondary to hemorrhagic descemet membrane detachment.

PURPOSE

To present a case of corneal blood staining due to a hemorrhagic Descemet membrane detachment and describe a method of surgical intervention.

METHODS

Observation of clinical features and outcome of surgical intervention.

RESULTS

A 72-year-old man had an anterior-chamber intraocular lens removed for presumed uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema syndrome, and he developed an intraoperative hemorrhagic detachment of the Descemet membrane attributed to peripheral corneal neovascularization. Corneal blood staining rapidly developed, and a partial-thickness paracentesis was required to evacuate the lamellar hematoma and allow reattachment of the Descemet membrane.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemorrhage from posterior corneal vessels can result in a hemorrhagic detachment of the Descemet membrane. Corneal blood staining can develop rapidly in an intracorneal or retrocorneal hemorrhage. The blood can be removed without incising the Descemet membrane by making a partial-thickness paracentesis.