Postoperative Thinning of Lamellar Donor Graft after Conventional Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty

Abstract

SUMMARY – The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative deturgescence of lamellar donor graft after conventional Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). It was a prospective study that included 55 eyes of patients (mean age 70.9±9.4 years; female 61.8%, male 38.2%). Preoperative thickness of lamella was compared with postoperative thickness six months after surgery. Central lamellar graft thickness decreased from 142±27 µm preoperatively to 124±20 µm 6 months postoperatively (p<0.01). After performing conventional DSAEK corneal transplantation, surgeons should expect deturgescence of corneal graft and reduction in thickness of lamellae by about 12% of initial thickness according to our results. We found this information important for better planning of surgical procedures and knowing what to expect after surgery, as well as for better cooperation with eye banks when ordering pre-cut corneal tissue.

Donor lamella thickness after ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty and its relation to postoperative visual acuity and pre-operative lamella measures

“…3 , middle panel); from one month to 12 months, a continuing decline was observed. These results are in agreement with what has been reported by previous studies[ 19 , 20 ]. The reduction of lamella thickness was paralleled by an improvement in visual acuity (Fig.…”

Long-term Outcomes in Fellow Eyes Comparing DSAEK and DMEK for Treatment of Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy

“…As such the average donor thickness would be around 125 microns, which would qualify as thin tissue under the guidelines by Neff and colleagues 28 , but would not be categorized as being thin (donor graft thickness between 50 and 100 microns). The thinning of the donor tissue over the postoperative follow-up has been previously documented by Meter and colleagues 40 , as well as Perone and associates 41 .…”