Intraocular contact lens tamponade to facilitate penetrating keratoplasty in perforated corneas

Penetrating keratoplasty in the presence of a perforated cornea is a relatively common and difficult surgical problem. In the worst scenario, there may be extrusion of ocular contents during trephination. Two cases of perforated corneas are presented in which a new technique was used to close the perforation and normalize intraocular pressure. This involves inserting a soft contact lens through a paracentesis into the anterior chamber. An ophthalmic viscosurgical device is then injected behind the contact lens, opening it, and allowing it to tamponade the perforation. This stabilizes the anterior chamber and allows a stable operating environment. This has not been described previously.