A case report reveals successful management of corneal perforation from cautery in a young adult, suggesting the need for careful technique.
Thermal corneal injuries are uncommon but potentially vision‐threatening. Full‐thickness corneal perforation caused by monopolar electrocautery during cosmetic blepharoplasty is exceptionally rare and scarcely reported in the literature. We report a 27‐year‐old healthy man who sustained an accidental central full‐thickness corneal perforation during elective upper eyelid blepharoplasty due to inadvertent contact with monopolar cautery. The patient presented with severe ocular pain, markedly reduced vision, and a shallow anterior chamber. Prompt intervention was performed under sterile conditions. The corneal perforation was sealed using N‐butyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive, followed by placement of a bandage contact lens. Adjunctive topical and systemic medications were administered to prevent infection, control inflammation, and inhibit collagenolysis. At one‐week follow‐up, the adhesive remained intact with a stable anterior chamber and no evidence of leakage or infection. Visual acuity improved to 20/200, limited by central stromal opacity. Although long‐term follow‐up was unavailable, immediate tectonic stabilization was successfully achieved. This case highlights a rare but severe ocular complication of cosmetic blepharoplasty. Early recognition and rapid application of cyanoacrylate glue can effectively preserve globe integrity in small corneal perforations. Proper ocular protection is essential during periocular surgical procedures to prevent such catastrophic injuries.
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Saffari et al. (2026) studied this question.
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