Spontaneous resolution of corneal oedema following Descemet's detachment

We report a case of spontaneous resolution of corneal oedema in the presence of a large persistent Descemet's detachment in a 71-year-old woman. Detachment of Descemet's membrane occurred during phacoemulsification surgery and produced significant corneal oedema. The patient declined surgical repair. Six months later the corneal oedema resolved and in vivo confocal microscopy showed endothelial cells on the posterior stroma in the region of the detachment. Endothelial cell hypertrophy, migration and redistribution were thought to be responsible for reversal of the corneal oedema. Experimental evidence and clinical studies raise the possibility that limited endothelial cell proliferation may occur.