HYDROPS AND SPONTANEOUS PERFORATION IN PELLUCID MARGINAL CORNEAL DEGENERATION

Purpose. Pellucid marginal degeneration of the cornea (1,2) is an idio pathic condition characterized by noninflammatory, nonulcerative thinn ing of the inferior, peripheral cornea. Occasionally the condition is complicated by acute corneal hydrops (3). We describe a patient with f indings suggestive of pellucid marginal corneal degeneration who exper ienced acute hydrops and spontaneous perforation of the cornea. Method , A retrospective analysis of the case was conducted. Results, A 56-ye ar-old woman was seen with decreased vision in the left eye. Clinical findings, including computerized corneal topography, were suggestive o f pellucid marginal degeneration. Two weeks later, the patient had hyd rops and spontaneous perforation of the left cornea. Medical workup of the patient and histopathologic and microbiologic studies of the corn eal specimen revealed no contributory disease process. The patient und erwent emergency tectonic lamellar keratoplasty and is doing well afte r subsequent optical penetrating keratoplasty. Conclusion. We believe this is the first report of a case of pellucid marginal degeneration o f the cornea complicated by hydrops and perforation.