Epithelial ingrowth in a phakic corneal transplant patient after traumatic wound dehiscence.

PURPOSE: To report a case of epithelial ingrowth (downgrowth) occurring in a phakic corneal transplant patient after traumatic wound dehiscence with iris prolapse that was successfully eradicated with early surgical intervention.

METHODS

Interventional case report of a 70-year-old monocular, phakic patient who developed epithelial ingrowth within 1 week of repair of a traumatic penetrating keratoplasty wound dehiscence, with reposition of the iris that had been prolapsed for 36 hours. A gradually expanding membrane developed from the surface of the reposited iris, across the anterior lens capsule. Argon laser photocoagulation applied to the surface of the iris confirmed the diagnosis and outlined the extent of the epithelial tissue on the iris.

RESULTS

Intraoperative peeling of the epithelial membrane from the surface of the lens and excision of the involved iris were performed combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and insertion of a posterior chamber intraocular lens via an open-sky technique through a repeat penetrating keratoplasty opening in the cornea. This resulted in complete resolution of the intraocular epithelialization. Histopathologic examination of the excised tissue confirmed the diagnosis of epithelial ingrowth.

CONCLUSIONS

Reposition of traumatically prolapsed iris tissue can result in epithelial ingrowth. Early aggressive surgical intervention can successfully remove all the epithelial tissue from within the anterior segment.