• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.152-157
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• 2023

A two-year-old, spayed female, Bichon Frise, was referred for severe corneal edema and corneal ulcer in the left eye (OS). The cornea had gradually swelled over one week after phacoemulsification performed a month prior, and that was refractory to 5% sodium chloride eye drop instillation or temporary partial tarsorrhaphy. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed. Severe corneal edema with intrastromal bullae and moderate anterior chamber flare was found on slit-lamp biomicroscopy in the OS, which obstructed the fundus examination. Corneal thickness was measured using high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy. The thickness of the OS cornea was 2.74 mm. The "letter-box" conjunctival flap was planned. Dorsal and ventral superficial keratectomy followed by a hood conjunctival flap was performed. Topical and systemic antibiotics and 5% sodium chloride eye drops were prescribed. Decreased corneal thickness was observed at one week, two weeks, and two months postoperatively (1.53 mm, 1.32 mm, and 0.92 mm, respectively). There were no postoperative complications, such as ocular discomfort or recurrent corneal ulcers. The "letter-box" conjunctival flap, a type of superficial keratectomy and conjunctival advancement hood flap, effectively relieved the severe irreversible corneal edema. This could be a simple but effective surgical intervention for patients with endothelial cell damage especially after phacoemulsification.