Repair of Spontaneous Corneal Perforation in Pellucid Marginal Degeneration Using Amniotic Membrane

A 47-year-old woman with a history of pellucid marginal degeneration was referred for management of hydrops and peripheral perforation of the right cornea. The initial management with cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive and bandage contact lens did not preclude aqueous leakage the next day. Amniotic membrane grafting using both a surgical graft and a bandage patch was thus performed in the operating room the following day. There was no aqueous leakage on the first post-operative day. The corneal integrity was restored with resolution of the corneal edema; and the visual acuity improved from 20/400 before surgery to 20/40 three months later. This case illustrates the clinical efficacy of amniotic membrane grafting as an effective alternative in the management of spontaneous corneal perforation resulted from pellucid marginal degeneration.