[Corneal lesion by vacuum extraction (author's transl)].

The case of a 6-year-old boy is reported who was delivered out of a frontal position by application of the vacuum cup to the left part of the forehead. His left eye exhibits a pronounced somewhat irregular astigmatism. There are some vertical descemet tears. Because of the application of the vacuum pump close to the left bulbus, an increase of the tissue tension and consequently a deformation of the bulbus occurred by the vacuum in the bulbar region. The described lesions parallel the vertical descement tears which occur in forceps-delivery. Owing to the greater horizontal corneal diameter, a more pronounced extension of the cornea in the horizontal meridian occurs, which would explain the vertical course of the descemet tears. The obstetric contraindication for the application of the vacuum extraction in case of a frontal or facial position of the fetus is justified also from the ophthalmological point of view because of the risk of occurrence of irreversible corneal lesions.