Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty: Our clinical results

Abstract

Objective: To present the clinical data of the patients with endothelial dysfunction who underwent Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) alone or with either intra ocular surgery. Material and Methods: The clinical data of the cases who underwent DMEK between February 2014 and February 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The mean follow up was 17.2±6.4 (min:6-max:47) months. At the last follow-up visit, 136 (87.7%) of the patients’ corneas were clear, 3 (1.9%) were semiclear and 16 (10.3%) were edematous. The mean best corrected visual acuity was 0.022±0.022 (0.001-0.1) preoperatively and 0.46±0.27 (0.001-1.0) at the last follow-up visit. The mean central corneal thickness was found to be 859.0±155.5 µ (643-1890) preoperatively and 537.8±79.6 µ (422-890) at the last follow-up visit. Peripheral or total detachment of DM graft rates were similar when compared between the patients who underwent DMEK alone and combined with other intraocular surgeries on first postoperative day. On the first postoperative month, these rates were found to be higher in the patients who underwent DMEK with other intraocular surgeries. At the last follow-up visit, total graft attachment rate was similar between these two groups. Conclusion: DMEK is a successful surgery in patients with endothelial dysfunction and no stromal opacity in which anterior chamber details can be seen after epithelial debridement.