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Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Descemet's membrane rupture secondary to forceps injury

Descemet's membrane rupture secondary to forceps injury

Category(ies): Cornea, Pediatrics, Trauma
Contributor: Jesse Vislisel, MD
Photographer: Brice Critser, CRA

Birth trauma from forceps delivery can cause breaks in Descemet's membrane and secondary corneal edema. The edema usually clears over time, but the ruptures in Descemet's membrane persist. The residual corneal changes can result in anisometropia and the main cause of vision loss after such an injury is anisometropic amblyopia. Descemet's membrane ruptures from forceps injury tend to be oriented vertically or obliquely, while those secondary to congenital glaucoma (Haab's striae) are most commonly horizontal.

obliquely-oriented ruptures in Descemet's membrane resulting from forceps injury in a 4-year-old girl
This photograph shows obliquely-oriented ruptures in Descemet's membrane resulting from forceps injury in a 4-year-old girl. The patient had anisometropic amblyopia.