Spontaneous resolution of recurrent Descemet's membrane detachment after trabeculectomy: A case report

PURPOSE: We report a rare case of recurrent Descemet's membrane detachment (DMD) post-trabeculectomy which was resolved spontaneously without surgical intervention. OBSERVATIONS: A 66-year-old patient with a history of acute angle closure glaucoma in his right eye presented to our hospital. The intraocular pressure (IOP) of his right was 40 mm Hg, and the visual acuity was10/20. After trabeculectomy of the affected eye, a severe Descemet's membrane detachment was found by AS-OCT. Part of Descemet's membrane was lying in front of the iris and lens. Surgical repair was performed, and viscoelastics and sterile air were injected into the anterior chamber to return the detached Descemet's membrane. AS-OCT showed that the DMD was successfully resolved. However, on the 7th day of follow-up, the DMD was detached again as seen on AS-OCT images. The patient refused reoperation to repair the DMD. Six months later, the patient visited our hospital again, and, interestingly, the DMD was completely resolved spontaneously without reoperation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Descemet's membrane is the basement membrane that lies between the stroma and the endothelial layer of the cornea. Minor DMD may be resolved spontaneously within a period of time without surgery, but large DMD is difficult to recover spontaneously. We believe that this is a rare case with spontaneous recovery of extensive DMD after trabeculectomy. But, despite all this, we still remain of the view that DMD should be treated immediately once it occurs.