Descemet’s membrane detachment classification
Type |
Causal elements |
Management |
Rhegmatogenous |
Hole, tear, dialysis |
Small, clinically insignificant: Observation
Clinically significant: Pneumodescemetopexy + Supradescemetic fluid drainage + Post-op positioning |
Tractional |
- Incarceration in: synechiae, wound, suture, graft-host junction
- Long standing RDD adhering to intraocular contents with contraction |
Small, clinically insignificant: Observation
Clinically significant:
- Healthy endothelium – Relaxing descemetotomy + Pneumodescemetopexy + Supra-descemetic fluid drainage + Post-op positioning
- Unhealthy endothelium – Penetrating or endothelial keratoplasty |
Bullous |
Viscoseparation, trapped blood, infection, inflammation, Anwar's big bubble, trauma |
Intraoperative nick or YAG Descemetopuncture, according to cause |
Complex |
Poorly repositioned DD:
- DMEK graft post-op re-detachments
- Long standing RDD with fibrosis combinations |
Observation, refloation, endothelial or penetrating keratoplasty |
- compiled & published by Dr Dhaval Patel MD AIIMS