Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) is an uncommon condition with a wide range of etiologies. More than likely, the most common cause is a localized detachment occurring after cataract surgery. We report three cases of Descemet's membrane detachment that occurred after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgeries. The first patient was managed without surgical intervention, the second patient was treated using an intracameral air injection, and the last patient was treated with an intracameral perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas injection. All three patients recovered their vision following the reattachment of Descemet's membrane. The three patients were treated according to the extent of the detachment.
Visual Acuity ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Descemet Membrane/*pathology ; Corneal Diseases/*therapy ; Cataract Extraction/*adverse effects ; Aged

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to clarify the histological characteristics of the interface of the corneal stroma and Descemet's membrane of the human eye. METHODS: Nighteen donor eyes without corneal pathology were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The Descemet's membrane including the corneal endothelium was cheked for scanning electron microscopy. The junctional characteristics of the posterior corneal stroma and Descemet's membrane was examined by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The scanning electron microscopy showed that collagen sheet faced each other at the right angle near the Descemet's membrane and penetrated the Descemet's membrane with the irregular arrangement. The transmission electron microscopy showed that the electron-dense collagen filaments extended to the posterior stroma from Descemet's membrane. The arrangement of electron-dense collagen filaments paralleled with the arrangement of the collagen fibrils of the posterior stroma. CONCLUSIONS: The interface of the corneal stroma and Descemet's membrane was composed of two-typed extracellular materials without the intercellular specificatons.
Collagen ; Corneal Stroma* ; Descemet Membrane* ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Pathology ; Tissue Donors

Light microscopy and electron microscopic examination were carried out on the corneal buttons of two patients who required penetrating keratoplasty for treatment of corneal complication following the intraocular injection of silicone oil to repair recurrent retinal detachments in aphakic eyes. Light microscopic examination demonstrated increased cellularity and irregularity of collagen fibers of stromal layer, defect of endothelial cell layer and endothelial degeneration. Electron microscopy examination demonstrated marked decrease in endothelial cell population density, accompanied by flattening and thinning of the remaining cells and attenuation of cell borders. There were silicone droplets in the endothelial cell layer and collagenous layer posterior to endothelial layer. These findings are well correlated to clinical manifestation and are thought to be rather due to barrier effect of silicone oil than direct toxicity.
Adult ; Corneal Diseases/*chemically induced/pathology/surgery ; Descemet Membrane/ultrastructure ; Endothelium, Corneal/drug effects/surgery/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retinal Detachment/surgery ; Silicone Oils/*adverse effects