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DOI: 10.1055/a-2786-1713
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Natural Recovery of Descemet Membrane Rupture after Low-to-Moderate Velocity Blunt Trauma

Natürliche Regeneration der Descemet-Membran nach stumpfem Trauma bei geringer bis mäßiger Energie

Authors

  • Eric Chan 

    Ophthalmology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Luzern, Switzerland

  • Frantisek Sanak 

    Ophthalmology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Luzern, Switzerland
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Introduction

Acute lesions in the Descemet membrane, such as Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) or Descemet membrane rupture (DMR), result in the influx of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into the corneal stroma, leading to sudden vision loss due to corneal edema [1].

Iatrogenic causes, such as cataract surgery may lead to a DMD, with a visually significant incidence ranging from 2.5% to 0.5%, as reported by Benatti et al. [2].

In the literature, DMR is mentioned less as an independent clinical picture and more as a consequence and occurrence in the context of intraocular surgery [3], acute corneal hydrops associated with corneal ectasia or traumatic corneal endothelial rings [4], [5].

In the pediatric population, DMR was reported in infants with congenital glaucoma [6] or following forceps delivery injury [7]. The development of DMR can result in DMD.

Treatment for DMD is tailored individually, with descemetopexy using air or gas as the standard. In keratoconus cases involving Descemet membrane breaks, acute corneal hydrops may cause scarring, and early surgery like compressive sutures or descemetopexy can speed up corneal edema resolution [8].

However, the therapeutical approach for DMR remains infrequently described in the existing literature due to the low number of reported cases and a consensus regarding its management has not been established yet. Traumatic corneal endothelial rings occur after a high-velocity projectiles, such as after blast injuries, and lead to a corneal endothelial edema [9]. These rings were found to disappear after 4.6 days on average. Typically, no surgical intervention is required and the corneal edema resolves [4]. An association with a Descemet membrane rupture and endothelial cell loss was previously described [5].

We present a case report of a spontaneous healing of DM following blunt trauma in a 36-year-old white male with no previous ocular history. After conducting a literature review on 15th June 2025 utilizing PubMed, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar using the key words “corneal endothelial rings”, “corneal endothelial contusion”, “descemet membrane” and “rupture” we did not find any prior reports of Descemet membrane rupture due to a low to middle impact blunt trauma.



Publication History

Received: 03 November 2025

Accepted: 12 January 2026

Article published online:
06 February 2026

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