Acute Corneal Hydrops following Post-keratoplasty Suture Removal in Pellucid Marginal Degeneration

PURPOSE: To report acute corneal hydrops following suture removal after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in a case of pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD). CASE REPORT: A young female underwent PK for corneal scarring in her left eye due to PMD; 8 months later the last sutures were removed. A few days following suture removal, the patient developed acute hydrops in the inferior aspect of the host-graft interface mostly in the recipient portion in the presence of a positive Seidel test. Review of the patient’s records revealed suture tract leakage in the early postoperative period at the same location which had been significantly thin. The patient received conservative therapy leading to complete resolution of the condition. CONCLUSION: Through and through suture bites in a mismatched host-graft interface can predispose the patient to acute hydrops in PMD when the sutures are removed during routine postoperative care.