Comparative corneal endothelial cell toxicity of differing intracameral moxifloxacin doses after phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To determine whether intracameral moxifloxacin 500 µg is noninferior to 250 µg for central endothelial cell loss (ECL) after phacoemulsification. SETTING: Aravind Eye Care System. DESIGN: Prospective masked randomized study. METHODS: Eyes with bilateral nuclear cataracts, central endothelial cell density (ECD) of more than 2000 cells/mm, and ECD not differing between eyes by more than 200 cells/mm underwent phacoemulsification at least 14 days apart. Intraoperatively, the first eye was randomized to receive either a 500 or 250 µg dose of moxifloxacin intracamerally and received the other dose for the second-eye surgery. Postoperative course was monitored at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Preoperative and 30-day and 90-day postoperative central ECD was determined by a reading center for a masked analysis of ECL at 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Fifty eyes of 25 patients (aged 48 to 69 years) underwent uneventful surgery and had normal postoperative courses. The point estimate (PE) and 95% CI for the mean difference in % ECL between the 500 µg and 250 µg doses at 3 months postoperatively was 0.8% (-5.8%, 7.4%). Upon identifying and removing 2 outliers, noninferiority was proven with a mean difference of the PE, -2.2% (CI, -6.5%, 2.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and corneal endothelial cell were comparable in this study population for the 250 µg and 500 µg doses of intracameral moxifloxacin. Both doses were well tolerated clinically, supporting the use of the higher dose for improved antimicrobial coverage for the prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis.

Prelamellar Dissection Donor Corneal Thickness Is Associated With Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty Operative Complications in the Cornea Preservation Time Study.

PURPOSE: To identify donor and recipient factors, including eye bank tissue observations, predictive of operative complications in the Cornea Preservation Time Study. METHODS: One thousand three hundred thirty study eyes undergoing Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for Fuchs dystrophy or pseudophakic/aphakic corneal edema were randomized to receive a donor cornea with preservation time (PT) of 0 to 7 days (N = 675) or 8 to 14 days (N = 655). Donor factors included demographics, prelamellar corneal and postlamellar lenticule dissection thickness, central endothelial cell density, and tissue processing time. Recipient factors included demographics, intraocular pressure, and glaucoma medications or surgery (trabeculectomy, laser trabeculoplasty). Eye bank observations included donor tissue folds, pleomorphism/polymegethism, and endothelial cell abnormalities. Possible tissue-related operative complications were recorded including difficult donor lenticule unfolding and positioning. Multivariable logistic regression with backward selection was used to identify statistically significant (P < 0.01) associations between factors and operative complications. RESULTS: The only factor predictive of operative complications [58 (4.4%) of 1330 surgeries] was prelamellar dissection donor corneal thickness (P = 0.002). For every 50 µm of donor corneal thickness prior to lamellar dissection, operative complication odds increased by 40% (odds ratio [99% confidence interval (CI)]: 1.40 [1.06-1.83]) adjusting for PT and whether the epithelium was on or off. The estimated mean prelamellar dissection donor corneal thickness for PT 0 to 7 days was 537 µm (99% CI: 516 µm-558 µm) compared with 567 µm (99% CI: 546 µm-588 µm) for PT 8 to 14 days (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Thicker donor tissue (prelamellar dissection) is associated with operative complications and should be considered in tissue selection for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty lenticule preparation.

Comparison of Donor Cornea Endothelial Cell Density Determined by Eye Banks and by a Central Reading Center in the Cornea Preservation Time Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate agreement between eye banks (EBs) and a reading center on endothelial cell density (ECD) determinations in the Cornea Preservation Time Study. METHODS: The Cornea Image Analysis Reading Center (CIARC) performed variable frame image analysis on EB-obtained-preoperative central endothelial images (after lamellar dissection for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty by the EBs or before shipping, if surgeon prepared) to determine ECD. The EBs performed their usual method of ECD determination. The CIARC and EBs also provided ECD determinations from screening central endothelial images taken by the EBs during donor evaluation. Two independent masked CIARC readers determined ECD with measurements averaged. RESULTS: The mean preoperative ECD was 15 cells/mm greater by the EBs than by CIARC (N = 1286, P < 0.001) with 95% limits of agreement of (-644, 675 cells/mm). The limits of agreement in preoperative ECD were wider in the After-Lamellar-Dissection Group (-687, 683 cells/mm) than in the Before Shipping Group [(-505, 633 cells/mm); P = 0.03]. The EBs-determined preoperative ECD was within 10% of the CIARC-determined ECD for 886 (69%) image sets, with 236 (18%) higher by >10% and 164 (13%) lower by >10%. Excellent agreement appeared between the EBs and CIARC when 100-300 cells could be analyzed in contrast to <100 cells (SD = 308 cells/mm vs. SD = 603 cells/mm; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The mean ECD by the EBs and CIARC were similar, but there was considerable variability between determinations for individual corneas. Agreement improved between the 2 measurements when more than 100 cells were able to be analyzed.