Hydrops is a condition where the rear membrane of the cornea ruptures to allow fluid from inside the eye to enter the cornea. This makes the cornea itself turn cloudy.
In some places a hydrops is an automatic indicator for an early graft, although I think that there are some people who post here who have recovered from their hydrops with pretty good vision.
At one time, I think, an artificially induced hydrops was used in the hope of correcting the malformation of the front of the cornea; they theory was that the scar tissue would tighten up the "bulge". Theyt don't do this any more! It didn't seem to work.
Andrew
ps the correct description is "corneal Hydrops"m as opposed to Hydrops Fetalis, which is a severe, life-threatening problem of severe edema (swelling) in the fetus and newborn.
For more on corneal Hydrops, look at this article:
http://www.eyemdlink.com/Condition.asp?ConditionID=46