Case Report: Intracorneal Hemorrhages Seen with Scleral Contact Lens Wear and Netarsudil Therapy

Abstract

Intracorneal hemorrhages are a rare finding generally associated with surgery or trauma. There is no consensus on preferred management except eliminating or addressing the causative mechanism in hopes of reducing the risk of corneal haze or scarring. This case highlights a rare adverse outcome of intracorneal hemorrhages occurring after recent initiation of netarsudil, possibly exacerbated by scleral contact lens wear in a patient with open-angle glaucoma and limbal stem cell deficiency. A 77-year-old man using scleral contact lenses for therapeutic management of limbal stem cell deficiency started netarsudil for open-angle glaucoma. During an annual follow-up to adjust his scleral contact lenses, the patient developed peripheral intracorneal hemorrhages bilaterally. The intracorneal hemorrhages resolved over the course of 10 weeks after minor adjustments were made to the scleral contact lens fit and netasurdil was discontinued. Visual acuity and intraocular pressure remained stable throughout. There are few reports of intracorneal hemorrhages associated with scleral contact lens use and even fewer associated with the use of netarsudil. This case proposes several possible causes of the intracorneal hemorrhages, including topical rho-associated kinase inhibitors, contact lens wear, and trauma. Further studies are needed to determine if netarsudil is associated with intracorneal hemorrhages, to understand the sequelae of intracorneal hemorrhages in netarsudil therapy, and to recommend management when intracorneal hemorrhages manifest with netarsudil use.