High altitude corneal endothelial decompensation.

A 77-year-old patient with low endothelial cell counts sustained acute unilateral endothelial decompensation when he traveled to an elevation of 12,500 feet. The corneal edema gradually increased after his return to sea level, and penetrating keratoplasty was required to restore vision. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of hypoxia-induced corneal endothelial decompensation.