Inadvertent retention of Descemet membrane after penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy

A retained Descemet membrane pertains to a type of retrocorneal membrane—a well-known yet rare complication of penetrating keratoplasty. We present a case of retained Descemet membrane after penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. A 71-year-old woman presented to the ophthalmology clinic for loss of visual acuity. The previous year she had undergone phacoemulsification on both eyes, resulting in pseudophakic bullous keratopathy in the right eye; an uneventful penetrating keratoplasty was performed on the affected eye. The following day at follow-up, an undulated retrocorneal membrane was discovered on slit-lamp examination: corresponding to a retained Descemet membrane. A satisfactory descemetorhexis was performed. Timely diagnosis and intervention allowed for a remarkable outcome, with a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/50 OD with contact lens use.