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Endothelial keratoplasty successfully performed in infant with CHED
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BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, Italy — Endothelial keratoplasty was successfully performed in a 3-month-old patient affected by congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy in a hospital in Verona, Italy.
"This is, to date, the youngest patient worldwide treated with EK for CHED," Roberto Bellucci, MD, said at an ophthalmology meeting organized at the San Bassiano Hospital here.
Congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy, or CHED, is a rare hereditary, progressive condition leading to severe corneal opacification. It is often misdiagnosed and mistreated as congenital glaucoma, with obvious detrimental effects.
"We decided on this early intervention when we saw the baby developing nystagmus," Dr. Bellucci said. "We are extremely satisfied with our results. The patient has regained a clear cornea and will have a normal visual development."
Although the patient is likely to have several re-operations throughout life, the endothelial approach allows postponing full-thickness transplantation to a later stage, possibly adolescence.
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