Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Cataract surgery in posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy
  1. Giacomo Savini1,
  2. Michele Carbonelli2,
  3. Piero Barboni2
  1. 1GB Bietti Eye Foundation-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
  2. 2Studio Oculistico d'Azeglio, Bologna, Italy
  1. Correspondence to Dr Giacomo Savini, GB Bietti Eye Foundation-IRCCS, Via Livenza 3, Rome 00100, Italy; giacomo.savini{at}

Statistics from


Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) is a dominantly inherited, commonly non-progressive condition featuring metaplasia (with epithelial features) and overgrowth of corneal endothelial cells and defects in the Descemet membrane.1 Slit-lamp biomicroscopy shows isolated or coalescent vescicles and/or band-shaped lesions.2 Patients are usually asymptomatic, although more severe cases may develop corneal oedema.2 3

The outcomes of modern cataract surgery in eyes with asymptomatic PPCD have never been reported (one case of a patient who developed corneal oedema is cited, but no details are given).4 Hence, we aimed to describe two patients with PPCD who successfully underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Material and methods

Two men with PPCD, aged 71 and 75, had been scheduled for cataract surgery on the same day.

On slit-lamp biomicroscopy, a vertical paracentral band-shaped lesion was preset in patient 1 (figure 1) and a horizontal band-shaped lesion in patient 2 (figure …

View Full Text

Request Permissions
