Inadvertent intrastromal injection of ophthalmic viscoelastic

• Published in: Journal of AAPOS Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 639 - 641
• Main Authors: McConnell, Lindsay K., BSE, Winter, Timothy W., DO, Olson, Richard J., MD, Longmuir, Susannah Q., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.12.2013
• Subjects: Cataract Extraction; Child, Preschool; Corneal Diseases - etiology; Female; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid - administration & dosage; Injections, Intraocular; Intraoperative Complications; Medical Errors - adverse effects; Ophthalmology; Viscoelastic Substances - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 1091-8531; 1528-3933
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2013.07.008

Viscoelastic is an ophthalmic viscosurgical device used to protect ocular tissue and maintain intraocular space during surgical procedures such as cataract removal. To date, the only cases published regarding inadvertent viscosurgical device injection have caused Descemet's membrane detachments. We report the case of a 4-year-old girl who underwent complicated lensectomy with prior history of uveitis and posterior synechia in which intrastromal ophthalmic viscoelastic was inadvertently injected into the stroma, leaving an off-centered opacity. At the time of surgery, no Descemet's membrane detachment was seen. The lensectomy and planned anterior vitrectomy were performed without complication and visual acuity has improved from 20/200 preoperatively to 20/70 at 3 months' follow-up. The corneal opacity resolved within 1 week of surgery, with no evidence of residual visual impairment.