Posters

Scheimpflug device assessment of corneal densitometry after Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)

Poster Details

First Author: I.Blanco SPAIN

Co Author(s):    J. Peraza   M. Sanchez   J. Torras   T. Hernandez   M. Chang   C. Rocha     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study the evolution of corneal densitometry using Oculus Pentacam ® in patients undergoing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Setting:

Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.

Methods:

Retrospective study of 35 consecutive cases who underwent DMEK surgery for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy or bullous keratopathy between January 2017 to February 2018. Serial examinations were carried out at 1, 3 and 6 months after the surgery, we studied densitometry values in 3 main layers in depth: anterior layer (120 mm), posterior layer (60 mm), and central layer considered as the thickness in between; as well as in 3 concentric radial areas: 2mm, 2mm to 6mm and 6 to 10mm. All the results were expressed in gray scale units (GSU)

Results:

A statistically significant decrease in density was found in the anterior layer in all the radial areas studied at 3 months (0-2mm:42,83 ±17,10; 2-6mm:38,57±14,02 and 6-10mm:48,04± 14) and 6 months (0-2mm:35,28±12,16; 2-6mm:33,25±10,39 and 6-10mm:43,52±10,95) regarding the first month (0-2mm:50,77±17,47; 2-6mm:46,49±15,60 and 6-10mm:54,27±13,86). At the posterior layer, there was an increase in density at 3 months with a subsequent decrease at 6 months, statistically significantly at the 0-2mm level (1m:25,06±10,18; 3m:26,85±15,1; 6m: 22,94±13,23) and at the 2-6mm level (1m:22,71±6,80; 3m:23,72±10,25; 6m: 20,92±8,62), but not at the 6-10mm level.

Conclusions:

A decrease in the density was observed in the anterior layer of the cornea in the postoperative period up to 6 months, exceeding the time of clinically objective edema in the slit lamp and pachymetry stabilization. In the posterior layer, a peak density occurred at 3 months on the posterior layer, which could be explained by a consolidation of the graft-host interface healing. The Oculus Pentacam® is an objective method for measuring corneal transparency using its densitometry software. These results can guide us in the evolution after DMEK surgery.

Financial Disclosure:

None