DMEK with irregular edged grafts: a salvage way to overcome large radial graft tears

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea: Surgical I

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 08/09/2015 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 08:54

Venue: Room 10

First Author: : M.Ozmen TURKEY

Co Author(s): :    N. Dilekmen   B. Aydin   E. Yuksel   K. Bilgihan   F. Akata        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate clinical outcomes of two cases who underwent Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with irregular-edged Descemet membrane (DM) grafts which were not trephinated because of radial Descemet membrane graft tears occured during DM peeling. DMEK with irregular edged graft: A salvage way to overcome large radial graft tears

Setting:

Gazi University Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Turkey

Methods:

We describe 2 cases of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) who underwent DMEK surgery with irregular edged Descement membrane(DM) grafts. Main outcome measures included best- corrected visual acuity(BCVA), endothelial cell density(ECD), central corneal thickness and refractive outcomes before and at 6 months after DMEK surgery was performed. Intraoperative and early postoperative complications were also evaluated.

Results:

Both grafts were successfully implanted into the anterior chamber, unfolded and attached to the posterior corneal stroma. BCVA for case 1 and 2 at the last visit was 0.9 and 0.5 respectively. Decrease in endothelial cell density at the last visit was %23 and %20 respectively for case 1 and 2. Central corneal thickness decreased from 723 µm to 546 µm for case 1 and from 850 µm to 518 µm for case 2 at the last visit. No intraoperative complications were occured except large radial Descement membrane graft tears developed during donor DM stripping. None of the cases needed a rebubbling procedure postoperatively.

Conclusions:

Large radial tears of donor DM during the preparation of DMEK grafts can make trephination stage impossible because of small graft diameter.These irregular edged Descemet membrane grafts however can be successfully implanted for DMEK surgery without altering clinical outcomes.

Financial Interest:

NONE