Corneal intrastromal silicone injection in severe corneal decompensation as a last resort for pain management: A case...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Bullous keratopathy causes significant ocular pain and corneal edema.
• Limited treatment options exist for patients with poor visual potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel surgical approach for treating painful bullous keratopathy.
• To evaluate the efficacy of an intracorneal silicone bubble in managing bullous keratopathy.

Main Methods:

• A femtosecond laser creates a corneal stromal pocket.
• A heavy silicone bubble is injected into the pocket and secured with sutures.
• Careful bubble sizing is crucial to balance edema relief and corneal nutrition.

Main Results:

• The intrastromal silicone bubble successfully halted corneal hydration and relieved pain in both patients.
• The treatment remained stable with pain control observed up to one year post-procedure.

Conclusions:

• Intrastromal silicone bubble injection is a safe and effective technique for bullous keratopathy.
• This method reduces corneal edema and alleviates ocular pain, improving patient comfort.