Purpose: Using an ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM) and an endoscope just after birth, We observed the morphological changes in the anterior segment in a case of anterior segment dysgenesis.
Case: The patient was a 9-day-old baby girl born with central opacity and high intraocular pressure. The central cornea was thin and the opacity was ring-shaped. Corneal vascularization was associated with the increase in the central corneal opacity, and finally progressed to fatty degeneration. Just after birth, UBM showed a double anterior chamber in one part of the cornea. The space in the cornea was filled with solid material, and the corneal thickness worsened. Surgical endoscopy showed a red membrane on the inner side of the cornea. The red color faded with time.
Conclusion: We reasoned that an immature corneal stroma developed after birth, and that this secondary stroma filled the space between the retro-corneal membrane and the corneal stroma. We also reasoned that the red membrane of the posterior cornea might be caused by bleeding from the corneal neovascular vessels, or that the vascular membrane of the posterior cornea encouraged proliferation of collagen fibers. Later on the vessels and bleeding regressed.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 116: 650-656, 2012.