Trypan Blue and Endoillumination-Assisted Phacoemulsification in a Patient With Advanced Keratoglobus

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Ophthalmic Technology

Background:

• Keratoglobus, a rare noninflammatory corneal ectasia, causes corneal thinning, protrusion, and scarring, often leading to poor vision.
• Cataract surgery in patients with advanced keratoglobus presents challenges due to severe corneal opacity and thinning.

Observation:

• A case study details the management of a 54-year-old male patient with advanced bilateral keratoglobus.
• The patient presented with corneal opacification, neovascularization, peripheral thinning, and moderate to severe corneal opacity.

Findings:

• A modified phacoemulsification technique utilizing endoillumination and trypan blue capsular staining was employed.
• This surgical modification enhanced visualization during cataract extraction in a severely opaque cornea.

Implications:

• The described technique offers improved intraoperative visualization for cataract surgery in keratoglobus patients.
• This method potentially reduces the risk of intraoperative complications associated with poor visibility in challenging corneal conditions.