CASE REPORT - FAVORABLE OUTCOME OF ACUTE HYDROPS IN KERATOCONUS PATIENT TREATED WITH AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD

A cute corneal hydrops is a complication of advanced keratoconus, resulting from Descemet’s membrane rupture,with intense stromal edema and significant visual loss.Among therapeutic alternatives, the use of autologous blood intra-stromally stands out as an option. In this case, it is presented a 32 year old man with bilateral keratoconus, use of rigid contact lenses, and irregular medical follow-up. He presented with eye pain and low visual acuity in the right eye for 15 days. After an attempt of clinical treatment with hypertonic and corticosteroid eye drops without significant improvement, autologous blood injection was chosen. After 7 days, partial edema improvement was observed; at 15 days, complete resolution of hydrops. After 3 months, the condition remained stable,allowing visual rehabilitation with lens fitting. Autologous blood acted as a biological plug , promoting healing without complications associated with other approaches, such as gas injection. Thus, autologous blood proved to be an effective and safe alternative in the management of acute hydrops.