A Practical Approach to Corneal Perforation in the Absence of Donor Tissue

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Trauma Surgery
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Traumatic corneal perforations pose a significant risk to vision.
• Access to donor corneal tissue for grafting can be limited in emergency and resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an emergency surgical technique for managing traumatic sealed corneal perforations.
• To demonstrate a low-cost, accessible method for restoring globe integrity when donor tissue is unavailable.

Main Methods:

• A sterile surgical polydrape patch was used to cover a 4 mm x 3 mm corneal perforation.
• N-butyl-cyanoacrylate glue secured the patch, followed by a bandage contact lens.
• The procedure was performed in an emergency setting due to lack of donor corneal graft material.

Main Results:

• The globe-sealing procedure successfully restored ocular integrity.
• The patient experienced an uneventful recovery with a healed cornea and maintained anterior chamber at 1-month follow-up.
• No signs of infection or persistent inflammation were observed.

Conclusions:

• A sterile polydrape patch combined with cyanoacrylate adhesive is an effective and accessible emergency solution for traumatic corneal perforations.
• This technique provides a critical interim measure for globe stabilization, facilitating healing or referral in under-resourced environments.
• It offers a valuable, low-cost alternative to donor corneal grafts in urgent situations.