Fibrous ingrowth with retrocorneal membrane

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Pathology

Background:

• Cataract extraction can lead to complications, including postoperative hyphema.
• Retrocorneal fibrous membranes are a potential, though uncommon, sequela.
• Blood staining can alter the appearance of ocular tissues.

Observation:

• A patient developed a retrocorneal fibrous membrane post-cataract extraction with hyphema.
• The membrane exhibited a distinctive straw-colored appearance due to blood staining.
• The patient's vision was impaired by the membrane.

Findings:

• Penetrating keratoplasty (corneal transplant) was performed with extensive anterior segment surgery.
• The removed corneal tissue revealed an unusual double-layered retrocorneal fibrous membrane.
• Histopathology showed the membrane was formed by vascularized fibrous ingrowth and transformed corneal endothelial cells.

Implications:

• Successful surgical intervention (penetrating keratoplasty) can restore useful vision in complex cases.
• Understanding the dual etiology of such membranes is crucial for surgical planning.
• This case highlights the importance of recognizing blood-stained membranes in postoperative complications.