Identifying causes for poor visual outcome after DSEK/DSAEK following secondary DMEK in the same eye |
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Authors: | Martin Dirisamer Jack Parker Miguel Naveiras Vasilios S. Liarakos Lisanne Ham Korine van Dijk Gerrit R. J. Melles |
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Affiliation: | 1. The Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;2. Melles Cornea Clinic, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;3. AKH Linz, Linz, Austria;4. Amnitrans EyeBank, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Purpose: To identify causes of reduced visual acuity after Descemet stripping (automated) endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK/DSAEK) and to determine whether such eyes can be successfully ‘repaired’ with a secondary Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Methods: Twelve eyes of 12 patients, who underwent secondary DMEK to manage poor visual outcome after initial DSEK/DSAEK, were evaluated with biomicroscopy, Pentacam imaging, and specular and confocal microscopy, before and at 1, 3 and 6 months after DMEK. Results: Four causes of reduced optical quality of the transplanted host cornea could be identified in DSEK/DSAEK: five eyes (42%) showed large host‐Descemet remnants within the visual axis during surgery; six eyes (50%) irregular graft thickness; six eyes subtle ‘stromal waves’; and nine eyes (75%) high reflectivity at the donor‐to‐host interface. After DMEK graft replacement, all corneas cleared and achieved a best corrected visual acuity of ≥20/25 (≥0.8), except for one with a partial Descemet graft detachment. Pachymetry values decreased from 670 (±112) μm before to 517 (±57) μm after secondary DMEK. Higher‐order aberrations (Coma and Trefoil) at the posterior surface tended to be lower (p = 0.07) in DMEK grafts than in DSEK/DSAEK grafts. Conclusion: Host‐Descemet remnants at the donor‐to‐host interface, interface reflectivity, graft thickness irregularity and donor stromal contraction may contribute to poor visual outcome after DSEK/DSAEK, without causing permanent host corneal damage, as in most cases, complete visual recovery could be achieved by performing a secondary DMEK. |
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Keywords: | corneal transplantation Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty graft thickness posterior lamellar keratoplasty visual acuity |
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