
pmid: 25200401
To describe the clinical outcome and complications of repeat Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (re-DMEK).Retrospective case series study at a tertiary referral center.From a series of 550 consecutive DMEK surgeries with ≥ 6 months follow-up, 17 eyes underwent re-DMEK for graft detachment after initial DMEK (n = 14) and/or endothelial graft failure (n = 3). The outcomes were compared with an age-matched control group of uncomplicated primary DMEK surgeries.The re-DMEK eyes were evaluated for best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), densitometry, endothelial cell density (ECD), pachymetry, and intraoperative and postoperative complications.Feasibility and clinical outcome of re-DMEK.In all eyes, re-DMEK was uneventful. At 12 months, 12 of 14 eyes (86%) achieved a BCVA of ≥ 20/40 (≥ 0.5); 8 of 14 eyes (57%) achieved ≥ 20/25 (≥ 0.8), 3 of 14 eyes (21%) achieved ≥ 20/20 (≥ 1.0), and 1 eye (7%) achieved 20/17 (1.2); 5 eyes were fitted with a contact lens. Average donor ECD decreased from 2580 ± 173 cells/mm(2) before to 1390 ± 466 cells/mm(2) at 6 months after surgery, and pachymetry from 703 ± 126 μm to 515 ± 39 μm, respectively. No difference in densitometry could be detected between re-DMEK and control eyes (P = 0.99). Complications after re-DMEK included primary graft failure (n = 1), secondary graft failure (n = 2), graft detachment requiring rebubbling (n = 1), secondary glaucoma (n = 2), cataract (n = 1), and corneal ulcer (n = 1). One eye received tertiary DMEK.In the management of persistent graft detachment and graft failure after primary DMEK, re-DMEK proved a feasible procedure. Acceptable BCVA may be achieved, albeit lower than after DMEK in virgin eyes, and some cases may benefit from contact lens fitting. Complications after re-DMEK may be better anticipated than after primary DMEK because graft detachment and graft failure tended to recur, suggesting that intrinsic properties of the host eye play a role in graft adherence and graft failure.
Adult, Aged, 80 and over, Graft Rejection, Male, Reoperation, Corneal Pachymetry, Endothelium, Corneal, Visual Acuity, Cell Count, Middle Aged, Tissue Donors, Corneal Diseases, Postoperative Complications, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Female, Intraoperative Complications, Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty, Aged, Retrospective Studies
Adult, Aged, 80 and over, Graft Rejection, Male, Reoperation, Corneal Pachymetry, Endothelium, Corneal, Visual Acuity, Cell Count, Middle Aged, Tissue Donors, Corneal Diseases, Postoperative Complications, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Female, Intraoperative Complications, Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty, Aged, Retrospective Studies
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