Rhopressa-induced corneal edema: a case report

Rhopressa (netarsudil) has recently been added to the arsenal of treatment for open-angle glaucoma. It is an effective norepinephrine transporter and Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor used to decrease intraocular pressure (IOP), with the most common side effect being conjunctival hyperemia.

We report a unique case of Rhopressa-induced corneal edema in a 79-year-old African-American woman, which resolved after discontinuation. She had a history of smoking one cigarette per day and did not consume alcohol. She had no history of corneal edema or uveitis.

Previous case reports have documented patients with Rhopressa-induced corneal edema; however, they have all had a preexisting history of corneal edema or uveitis. We believe that this is a unique case of Rhopressa-induced corneal edema in a relatively healthy eye. While Rhopressa is effective in managing glaucoma, there may be effects of treatment that are still unknown. We will discuss clinical findings of our case, along with a review of previous literature on Rhopressa and novel ROCK inhibitors. We hope that we can add to the existing body of literature and invite further investigation of Rhopressa and ROCK inhibitors and their effects on the cornea.