Acquired anterior staphyloma after corneal ulcer associated with the use of crack

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia 2016-07, Vol.79 (4), p.268-269
• Main Authors: Vasconcelos, Stefânia Barbosa Diniz de, Guerra, Fernanda Machado, Morato, Gisele Macioca, Neves, Nathália Teles das, Tzelikis, Patrick Frensel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Corneal Diseases - chemically induced; Corneal Diseases - surgery; Corneal Transplantation - methods; Corneal Ulcer - chemically induced; Corneal Ulcer - complications; Corneal Ulcer - surgery; Crack Cocaine - adverse effects; Humans; Male; OPHTHALMOLOGY; Scleroplasty - methods; Treatment Outcome; Visual Acuity
• ISSN: 0004-2749; 1678-2925; 1678-2925
• DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.20160076

We describe an unusual case of acquired anterior staphyloma in a patient addicted to crack cocaine. At the beginning of his crack cocaine abuse, he noticed redness and irritation of his eyes. Over the next 4 months, the patient also noticed the onset of decreasing visual acuity in his right eye (OD). Initially, his visual acuity was light perception in OD, and slit-lamp examination revealed a corneal infiltrate with a peripheral perforation and an iris prolapse. The patient was hospitalized to ensure compliance with the prescribed treatment and was advised to undergo therapeutic keratoplasty; however, the patient left the hospital against medical advice and was lost to follow-up for the next 6 months. He returned with complaints of photophobia and the inability to close his right eyelids. At this time, his cornea had developed an anterior staphyloma and required a sclerokeratoplasty. Following surgery, the patient was again lost to follow-up.