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Corneal perforation in a premature infant
B M Zagelbaum1, E M Stroh, H D Perry
1Department of Ophthalmology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA.
Background:
Few cases of corneal perforation in a premature infant have been described in the literature.
Methods:
Identical twins were born at 30-weeks gestation. One twin developed a corneal epithelial defect, infiltration, and perforation with extrusion of intraocular contents, requiring an emergency penetrating keratoplasty. The second twin developed a progressive corneal opacity, requiring a lamellar keratectomy.
Results:
After penetrating keratoplasty, the patient developed absolute glaucoma with buphthalmos, leading to enucleation. The twin's lamellar keratectomy specimen proved to be a dermoid.
Conclusions:
One must be aware of the danger of the development of spontaneous corneal perforation with extrusion of intraocular contents in premature infants presenting at birth with an epithelial defect.