Descemet Membrane Detachment After Canaloplasty

Abstract

To report the incidence and management of Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) after canaloplasty. Review of all patients who developed DMD after canaloplasty at Tulane Glaucoma Services was performed. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and number of glaucoma medications up to 1 year of follow-up were included in the analysis. The incidence of DMD was 7.4% (12 eyes of 162). Eighty-three percent (10/12) of the DMDs involved the inferior quadrants and measured <3 mm. Intracorneal hemorrhage within DMD occurred in 58% (7/12), whereas 42% (5/12) developed DMD with intracorneal viscoelastic (Healon GV) alone. Two patients had large detachments measuring 5 to 6 mm extending into the visual axis. DMD resolved completely with or without drainage except for 1 patient who developed corneal decompensation, needing penetrating keratoplasty. DMD with or without intracorneal hemorrhage is not an infrequent complication of canaloplasty and can occasionally lead to corneal decompensation.