Management Of Post-Traumatic Intracorneal Cyst

To describe the clinical presentation, surgical management, and visual outcome of a post-traumatic intracorneal cyst in a pediatric patient.

Tertiary eye care center in North India

A five-year-old boy presented with gradual, progressive loss of vision in the left eye over a one-year period following prior ocular trauma. Slit-lamp examination demonstrated a well-defined intracorneal cyst containing turbid fluid within the anterior corneal stroma. The lesion was bordered by whitish deposits and extended temporally into the adjacent sclera.

Surgical management involved creation of a partial-thickness scleral flap to expose the lesion. The cyst was de-roofed and completely excised. Intracorneal fluid was aspirated through the sclero-corneal tract using a 23-gauge cannula. Adjunctive mitomycin-C cauterization was applied to ablate any residual epithelial lining and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Postoperatively, there was marked improvement in corneal clarity. At three months of follow-up, complete resolution of the cyst was observed, and best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/60.

Post-traumatic intracorneal cysts, though rare, should be considered in children presenting with progressive visual decline after ocular injury. Early surgical intervention with complete cyst excision and adjunctive mitomycin-C application can result in favorable anatomical and visual outcomes while minimizing recurrence risk.