Rapid Spontaneous Resolution Of Acute Corneal Hydrops Within One-Week Follow Up: A Unique Case Report

This case report describes a 17-year-old female presenting with acute corneal hydrops that resolved spontaneously with medical treatment over one-week follow up in the right eye. There are no similar reported acute corneal hydrops cases of a similar period of resolution.

A retrospective revision of the patient file.

A retrospective case report.

A 17-year-old female presented with complaints of pain, photophobia, and sudden-onset vision loss for 5 days in the right eye. Vision was hand motion in the right eye. She had history of frequent changes in her refraction. On exam, a focal area of microcystic corneal edema of 5 × 6 mm in size on the inferior cornea with break in Descemet membrane (DM) was noted in the right eye. On anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), intra-stromal corneal edema with an area DM detachment was seen. Patient started on topical antibiotics, steroids, cycloplegia, lubricants, and sodium chloride eye drop and ointment. At one-week follow up, surprisingly; AS-OCT showed complete resolution of stromal corneal edema, and deep stromal scaring.

While acute corneal hydrops usually resolve spontaneously within 3 months. This study reports a unique case of resolved acute corneal hydrops within one week of presentation after starting conservative management, which was not previously documented in literature.