Navigating a Surgical Surprise: Management of a Limbal Dermoid Complicated by Congenital Corneal Anaesthesia

This case report details a 7-year-old male with oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) who developed severe post-operative complications, including graft melt and a persistent epithelial defect, following limbal dermoid excision with lamellar sclerokeratoplasty. These complications arose from undiagnosed congenital corneal anaesthesia due to trigeminal hypoplasia, which was confirmed post-operatively. Despite challenges in paediatric assessment, this case underscores the critical need for pre-operative corneal sensation testing in all OAVS patients to prevent vision-threatening outcomes and guide appropriate surgical management.