Ocular coherence tomography for the diagnosis of Descemet's detachment after deep sclerectomy and resolution after intracameral air injection

PURPOSE: to report the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a case of Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) secondary to a nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS) and the efficacy of intracameral air injection for management. OBSERVATIONS: DMD was identified by anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) in a 61-year-old male patient who was blind in the right eye and had advanced open angle glaucoma. This patient underwent NPDS in the left eye and developed localized corneal edema postoperatively. Air was injected into the anterior chamber resulting in reattachment of Descemet's membrane and resolution of corneal edema. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: This case highlights the need for a high suspicion of DMD in cases of localized corneal edema after non-penetrating surgery. Following confirmation with AS-OCT, DMD can be successfully managed with air injection. DMD is a rare complication of NPDS with all the reported cases associated with implant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of NPDS without any type of implant.