Posters

Visual outcomes of hemi-Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (hemi-DMEK)

Poster Details

First Author: K. Baig CANADA

Co Author(s):    Y. Yang   E. Santiago   N. Noordeh   J. Compan           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Hemi-DMEK has been described as a technique to increase the availability of donor cornea by splitting donor corneal transplant into two separate grafts. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the one-year outcome after Hemi-DMEK at a single tertiary center.

Setting:

University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa, Canada

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of six pseudophakic patients with endothelial dysfunction undergoing transplantation with semicircular Descemet graft was performed. Data on patient demographics, ocular history, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and endothelial cell density (ECD) were collected up to 16 months postoperatively. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were also assessed.

Results:

Six patients underwent hemi-DMEK for indications of Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy (n=4), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (n=1) and Descemet membrane detachment during cataract surgery (n=1). The mean age was 78 years (range 69 to 84). Hemi-DMEK was successful in 5 out of 6 eyes; one eye had persistent graft detachment and corneal edema despite rebubbling and underwent repeat DMEK. All 5 successful grafts cleared within 6 months, and had BVCA≥20/25 at the latest follow up (range 12 to 16 months). Compared to preoperative measurements, average central ECD decreased by 49% (range: 7% increase to 83% decrease) at the 1 year follow up.

Conclusions:

Hemi-DMEK is a feasible method to increase availability of donor cornea with stable visual outcomes over long term.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE