Posters

Comparison of Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty with respect to tear film functions through ocular surface interferometer

Poster Details

First Author: K.Kim SOUTH KOREA

Co Author(s):    B. Chung   K. Seo   I. Jun   E. Kim   T. Kim        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate tear film functions and blinking frequency changes in eyes after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) compared with those after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).

Setting:

The study was conducted in patients who received keratoplasty by Dr. Tai-im Kim in Ophthalmology department of Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea from January 2017 till December 2018.

Methods:

This retrospective study compared the changes in 12 eyes of 12 patients who underwent DSEK with those in 8 eyes of 8 patients who underwent PKP. Tear film functions were evaluated using lipid layer thickness(LLT) through ocular surface interferometer. Number of total blinking and partial blinking in 20 seconds term was observed and partial to total blinking ratio(P/T ratio) was calculated using interferometer. The patients were examined preoperatively and at 1, 6 months postoperatively.

Results:

Preoperatively, LLT was higher in the DSEK group than in the PKP group(p<0.05). There was significant decrease of LLT in the DSEK group and increase in the PKP group(p<0.05) at 1 month after surgery. LLT returned to previous range at 6 months which showed no significant difference compared to that of preoperative period in both groups. Total blinking had no significant difference(p<0.05) before and after the surgery in both groups. P/T ratio remained unchanged in the PKP group over time, but in the DSEK group, PT ratio was elevated at 1 month after surgery.

Conclusions:

Tear film function in respect of LLT which exhibited higher level in DSEK group than in PKP group preoperatively remained higher in DSEK group after surgery. Postoperative LLT level transiently changed at 1 month in both groups but returned back to previous range. Blinking was also assessed but there was no significant difference in total blinking frequency between DSEK and PKP. This study suggests DSEK had advantage of maintaining LLT postoperatively over PKP, and the need to consider the reason for the lack of an absolute correlation between LLT and blinking frequency.

Financial Disclosure:

None