Acute corneal hydrops treated with autologous stromal blood injection: in vivo confocal microscopy findings.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate microstructural changes in the cornea of patients with acute corneal hydrops who underwent autologous blood injection using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).

METHODS

This prospective study included consecutive patients presenting with acute hydrops, who were treated with autologous blood injection. Patients were evaluated using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and IVCM at baseline, and 30 and 90 days after injection.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (12 males and 7 females) aged 10-52 years (mean: 21.9 ± 10.7 years) were included. The overall IVCM features were comparable to those previously described for acute corneal hydrops without surgical intervention. Hyper-reflective cells, presumed to be inflammatory cells, were observed during follow-up; however, no consistent structural abnormalities suggestive of treatment-related toxicity were identified during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides prospective serial IVCM characterization of eyes treated with intrastromal autologous blood for acute corneal hydrops. Within the limitations of a small cohort and short-term follow-up, no structural abnormalities suggestive of treatment-related toxicity were observed during the 90-day follow-up. Because this was a small, uncontrolled study, further comparative investigations are required to better define the clinical impact, benefits, and risks of this approach.