Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty versus Ultrathin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Purpose: To compare best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), refractive astigmatism, and complications after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK). Design: Prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial. Participants: Fifty-four pseudophakic eyes of 54 patients with corneal endothelial dysfunction resulting from Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy were enrolled in 6 corneal centers in The Netherlands. Methods: Participants were allocated to DMEK (n = 29) or UT-DSAEK (n = 25) using minimization randomization based on preoperative BSCVA, recipient central corneal thickness, gender, age, and institution. Donor corneas were prestripped and precut for DMEK and UT-DSAEK, respectively. Six corneal surgeons participated in this study. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was BSCVA at 12 months after surgery. Results: Central graft thickness of UT-DSAEK lamellae measured 101 mu m (95% confidence interval [CI], 90-112 mu m). Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity did not differ significantly between DMEK and UT-DSAEK groups at 3 months (0.15 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] [95% CI 0.08-0.22 logMAR] vs. 0.22 logMAR [95% CI 0.16-0.27 logMAR]; P = 0.15), 6 months (0.11 logMAR [95% CI 0.05-0.17 logMAR] vs. 0.16 logMAR [95% CI 0.12-0.21 logMAR]; P = 0.20), and 12 months (0.08 logMAR [95% CI 0.03-0.14 logMAR] vs. 0.15 logMAR [95% CI 0.10-0.19 logMAR]; P = 0.06). Twelve months after surgery, the percentage of eyes reaching 20/25 Snellen BSCVA was higher in DMEK compared with UT-DSAEK (66% vs. 33%; P = 0.02). Endothelial cell density did not differ significantly 12 months after DMEK and UT-DSAEK (1870 cells/mm 2 [95% CI 1670-2069 cells/mm(2)] vs. 1612 cells/mm(2) [95% CI 1326-1898 cells/mm(2)]; P = 0.12). Both techniques induced a mild hyperopic shift (12 months: +0.22 diopter [D; 95% CI -0.23 to 0.68 D] for DMEK vs. +0.58 D [95% CI 0.13-1.03 D] for UT-DSAEK; P = 0.34). Conclusions: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty and UT-DSAEK did not differ significantly in mean BSCVA, but the percentage of eyes achieving 20/25 Snellen vision was significantly higher with DMEK. Endothelial cell loss did not differ significantly between the treatment groups, and both techniques induced a minimal hyperopic shift. (C) 2020 by the American Academy of Ophthalmolog

Quality of vision and vision-related quality of life after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty:a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE: To compare quality of vision and vision‐related quality of life (QOL) in patients undergoing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) or ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS: Fifty‐four eyes of 54 patients with Fuchs' dystrophy from six corneal clinics in the Netherlands were randomized to DMEK or ultrathin DSAEK and examined preoperatively, and 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Main outcome measures were corneal higher‐order aberrations (HOAs), contrast sensitivity, straylight and vision‐related QOL. RESULTS: Posterior corneal HOAs decreased after DMEK and increased after ultrathin DSAEK (p ≤ 0.001) 3 months after surgery and correlated positively with best spectacle‐corrected visual acuity (12 months: r = 0.29, p = 0.04). Anterior and total corneal HOAs did not differ significantly between both techniques at any time point. Contrast sensitivity was better (p = 0.01), and straylight was lower (p = 0.01) 3 months after DMEK compared with ultrathin DSAEK; 95% confidence interval [CI] of log(cs) 1.10–1.35 versus 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.12, and 95% CI: log(s) 1.18 to 1.43 versus 95% CI: 1.41 to 1.66, respectively. Both were comparable at later time points. Vision‐related QOL (scale 0–100) did not differ significantly between both groups at any time point and improved significantly at 3 months (β = 12 [95% CI: 7 to 16]; p < 0.001), and subsequently between 3 and 12 months (β = 5 [95% CI: 0 to 9]; p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) results in lower posterior corneal HOAs compared with ultrathin DSAEK. Contrast sensitivity and straylight recover faster after DMEK but reach similar levels with both techniques at 1 year. Vision‐related QOL improved significantly after surgery, but did not differ between both techniques

Trends in penetrating and anterior lamellar corneal grafting techniques for keratoconus : A national registry study

Purpose: Keratoconus is a progressive disorder and one of the primary indications for corneal transplantation. Anterior lamellar keratoplasty offers several advantages over other techniques, including endothelial preservation and longer graft survival. In this study, we examined the recent trend of using lamellar techniques for keratoconus at a national level. Methods: Data were obtained from the Dutch national organ transplant database regarding corneal transplants for keratoconus performed in 2005 through 2014. Baseline characteristics for patients undergoing various techniques were obtained, and temporal trends were analysed. Results: A total of 1041 operations were performed, including 736 penetrating keratoplasties (PKPs) and 297 anterior lamellar keratoplasties (ALKs). The mean age of the total surgical group was 37.4 ± 13.4 years, and 68% of patients were male (p = 0.0001). Preoperative patient characteristics were reported in all 1041 cases. The relative proportion of ALKs increased from 2005 (19% of cases) to 2010 (39% of cases) and remained approximately 30-40% thereafter. Descemet baring or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) was increasingly applied and was the predominant anterior lamellar technique performed from 2009 onwards. Conclusions: The number of corneal transplantations performed annually for keratoconus decreased during the past 10 years. Lamellar techniques were increasingly performed, accounting for approximately 35% of keratoplasties in 2010 and thereafter. Among ALK techniques, maximal depth DALK is the most prevalent keratoplasty performed for keratoconus in most recent years. Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) is still common, with a stable frequency from 2010 onwards

Corneal Cross-Linking for Pediatric Keratoconus : Long-Term Results

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of cross-linking in pediatric patients with keratoconus and to provide a systematic literature overview regarding this subject. METHODS: In this prospective cohort, 54 eyes of 36 pediatric patients with keratoconus underwent standard epithelium-off cross-linking. Follow-up measurements taken up to 5 years after treatment were compared with baseline values. Logistic regression was used to identify the underlying cause in case of progression despite treatment. Finally, a systematic search was performed in PubMed and Embase, and data were extracted and summarized. RESULTS: At all follow-up visits up to 5 years, maximum keratometry values improved significantly (mean change at 5 years -2.06 diopters (D), P = 0.01); moreover, average keratometry, uncorrected distance visual acuity, and corrected distance visual acuity improved at all follow-up times, though not always to the level of statistical significance. In 12 eyes (22%), keratoconus had progressed by ≥1.0 D by the last follow-up visit, despite corneal cross-linking. Cones that were more decentralized were identified as the underlying cause of disease progression. The systematic search yielded 17 unique articles: 10 articles on epithelium-off cross-linking, 2 on accelerated cross-linking, 2 on transepithelial cross-linking, 1 on both epithelium-off and transepithelial cross-linking, and 2 on transepithelial cross-linking with iontophoresis. CONCLUSIONS: Our long-term follow-up reveals that epithelium-off cross-linking is both apparently safe and effective when used to prevent keratoconus progression in pediatric patients. However, disease progression occurred in 22% of the treated eyes; this progression was attributed to a more decentralized cone location

Trends in penetrating and anterior lamellar corneal grafting techniques for keratoconus : A national registry study

Purpose: Keratoconus is a progressive disorder and one of the primary indications for corneal transplantation. Anterior lamellar keratoplasty offers several advantages over other techniques, including endothelial preservation and longer graft survival. In this study, we examined the recent trend of using lamellar techniques for keratoconus at a national level. Methods: Data were obtained from the Dutch national organ transplant database regarding corneal transplants for keratoconus performed in 2005 through 2014. Baseline characteristics for patients undergoing various techniques were obtained, and temporal trends were analysed. Results: A total of 1041 operations were performed, including 736 penetrating keratoplasties (PKPs) and 297 anterior lamellar keratoplasties (ALKs). The mean age of the total surgical group was 37.4 ± 13.4 years, and 68% of patients were male (p = 0.0001). Preoperative patient characteristics were reported in all 1041 cases. The relative proportion of ALKs increased from 2005 (19% of cases) to 2010 (39% of cases) and remained approximately 30-40% thereafter. Descemet baring or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) was increasingly applied and was the predominant anterior lamellar technique performed from 2009 onwards. Conclusions: The number of corneal transplantations performed annually for keratoconus decreased during the past 10 years. Lamellar techniques were increasingly performed, accounting for approximately 35% of keratoplasties in 2010 and thereafter. Among ALK techniques, maximal depth DALK is the most prevalent keratoplasty performed for keratoconus in most recent years. Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) is still common, with a stable frequency from 2010 onwards