Aims: Evaluate the efficacy of a little-used surgical method: corneal tattooing, using a dermograph to hide unsightly corneal scars on nonfunctional eyes.
Patients and methods: Retrospective study of 14 eyes of 13 patients treated by tattooing the corneal surface, by directly introducing the pigments into the corneal stroma using a dermograph. The effectiveness of tattooing was evaluated by pigmentation homogeneity and patient satisfaction. Tolerance was evaluated by the scarring at the 7th day and ocular inflammation. The average follow-up was 18 months.
Results: Fourteen eyes presented an unaesthetic, neovascularized major corneal edema (79% traumatism). In 12 eyes, the treatment was homogeneous with a very satisfactory aesthetic result for the patient. One eye presented minor complications of pigmentary migration. One eye presented a corneal perforation 40 days after the procedure on a very pathological cornea.
Conclusion: Corneal tattooing using a dermograph is a little-used technique since changes in corneal transplantation indications but is also a simple and inexpensive alternative for corneal scar treatment on nonfunctional eyes.