Abstract

Cosmetic correction in a non-seeing opaque eye reduces social stigma and improves patient confidence. Corneal tattooing is a minimally invasive option for the same. For longer dye retention, a dual approach using lamellar as well as surface corneal tattooing in recommended. A 23 year old male with microcornea, chorioretinal coloboma, total retinal detachment and a dense white cataract in left eye presented with a desire for cosmetic correction. He had no perception of light in that eye. A lamellar pocket was created in the entire cornea at 300 microns depth from the superotemporal side. Indian ink was injected to coat the entire pocket and the incision was sutured. In the same sitting hydrazine hydrate with platinum chloride was used to stain the cornea from the surface after epithelial debridement. This resulted in a uniform black colouration of the cornea obscuring visualization of the white cataract beneath. Post operative cosmesis was satisfactory with a good outcome.