Repeat Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty: Secondary Grafts with Early Intervention Are Comparable with Fellow-Eye Primary Grafts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of secondary Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) after failed primary DMEK. DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-five DMEK recipients 42 to 89 years of age. METHODS: An initial consecutive series of 1655 DMEK surgeries was reviewed to identify cases of secondary DMEK after failed primary DMEK (n = 55). A paired fellow-eye analysis was performed with a subgroup of 29 patients who underwent secondary DMEK in 1 eye and successful primary DMEK in the fellow eye. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), central corneal thickness, and 1-year endothelial cell loss. RESULTS: The median follow-up after DMEK regraft was 18 months (range, 3-61 months). All 55 regrafts cleared, 8 (15%) had air reinjected to promote attachment, 1 eye (2%) with trabeculectomy and progressive synechiae demonstrated late endothelial failure, and no rejection episodes occurred (0%). In the paired analysis, the median duration of endothelial decompensation before the regraft was 21 days (range, 2-133 days). At 1, 3, 6, or 12 months, CDVA did not differ between the primary and secondary grafts in fellow eyes (mean difference, ≤2 Snellen letters; P > 0.05 at all examinations). At 1 year, the visual acuity was ≥20/20 in 61%, ≥20/25 in 81%, and ≥20/40 in 100% of the secondary grafts in the paired analysis, excluding 1 eye with retinal problems. Vision differed by ≤1 line between fellow eyes in all but the 1 patient with the longest time to regraft (133 days), who demonstrated central haze and irregular astigmatism from anterior stromal scarring during that period. At 1 year, CDVA associated with the scarring was 20/40 versus 20/20 for the fellow-eye primary graft. The central corneal thickness was comparable between fellow-eye primary and secondary grafts at 3, 6, and 12 months (mean difference at 1 year, 2 µm; P = 0.57). The 1-year endothelial cell loss was comparable in primary and secondary grafts (27% vs. 31%, respectively; P = 0.58). CONCLUSIONS: In patients who received prompt intervention to minimize the duration of central corneal decompensation, the visual outcomes with secondary DMEK matched the fellow-eye visual outcomes with primary DMEK.

Surgical decisions in the setting of zonulopathy.

An 85-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes, pseudoexfoliation (PXF) in both eyes, and tamsulosin use was referred for the evaluation of a dense cataract in the right eye and a subluxated intraocular lens (IOL) in the left eye. Unfortunately, his surgery in the left eye was complicated by diffuse zonulopathy. The referring surgeon placed a 3-piece IOL in the sulcus. However, the passively fixated 3-piece IOL moved inferiorly causing monocular diplopia for over a year. Because the patient was pleased with the IOL immediately postoperatively, a refixation procedure was performed in the form of sulcus placement with iris suture fixation in the left eye. Fortunately, the iris-fixated IOL in the left eye has remained well centered and stable without cystoid macular edema (CME) or chronic inflammation for over 8 months. The patient is on no ocular medications and has no family history of glaucoma. He now needs cataract surgery in the right eye and is extremely apprehensive because of his difficult course in the left eye. The corrected distance visual acuity is 20/70 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. Intraocular pressures (IOPs) measure 20 mm Hg in the right eye and 14 mm Hg in the left eye by Goldmann tonometry. Pachymetry is 536 µm in the right eye and 543 µm in the left eye. Pupils are round with minimal reactivity and without a relative afferent pupillary defect. Extraocular motility is normal in both eyes, and confrontation visual fields is full in both eyes. Gonioscopy reveals an angle open to the pigmented trabecular meshwork (PTM) in the right eye and the ciliary body in the left eye with 1+ PTM and without peripheral anterior synechia in both eyes. The retinal nerve fiber layer and macular optical coherence tomography are normal in both eyes. On slitlamp examination, pertinent findings include pseudoexfoliative changes at the pupillary margin with poor dilation of 3.5 mm in both eyes; the anterior chamber (AC) is shallow but adequate in the right eye and deep and quiet with rare pigmented cells in the left eye. There is a 5+ nuclear sclerotic cataract with pseudoexfoliative changes on the anterior capsule and no obvious phacodonesis in the right eye and a 3-piece posterior chamber IOL in the sulcus fixated to the iris with 10-0 polypropylene sutures at 6 and 12 o'clock without pseudophacodonesis in the left eye. Dilated fundus examination reveals a cup-to-disc ratio of 0.4 with healthy neuroretinal rims in both eyes, posterior vitreous detachments in both eyes, and no evidence of diabetic retinopathy in both eyes. All other findings are unremarkable. How would you counsel this patient regarding his risk factors for surgery in the right eye? What surgical maneuvers would you use to remove the cataract safely? How would you stabilize the IOL if the capsule bag becomes compromised due to zonulopathy?

Refractive outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty triple procedures (combined with cataract surgery).

PURPOSE: To describe the refractive outcomes of triple Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: The study included patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy and cataract without coincident pathology. RESULTS: Outcomes of 108 sequential triple DMEK procedures were evaluated. With a mean follow-up of 11.9 months, the median corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/20 (range 20/15 to 20/40) and the median uncorrected distance visual acuity in eyes with a distance target (n = 84) was 20/40 (range 20/20 to 20/200). Forty-five percent of patients gained 3 or more lines of CDVA. The median refractive error was +0.43 diopter (D) (interquartile range, -0.34 to +1.17 D). Aspheric intraocular lenses (IOLs) (n = 91) did not significantly change refractive astigmatism (mean: preoperative +0.926 D ± 0.144 [SD]; postoperative +0.945 ± 0.129 D) (P = .83), while toric IOLs (n = 9) did (mean: preoperative +2.47 ± 0.36 D; postoperative +0.94 ± 0.90 D) (P = .0015). The anterior curvature measured by Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam) did not significantly change (mean -0.06 ± 0.47) (P = .41); however, keratometry by partial coherence interferometry (IOLMaster) did (mean -0.6 ± 0.9 D) (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Triple DMEK safely achieved excellent CDVA. Selection of the optimum IOL power is complicated by several factors. Because Fuchs dystrophy induces changes predominately in the central cornea, measurements averaging curvature over a larger area might underreport significant refractive deviations. In the absence of an algorithm to more precisely individualize IOL calculations, a refractive target of -0.75 to -1.00 D will help reduce the proportion of eyes left hyperopic. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Implementation of the posterior chamber intraocular lens intrascleral haptic fixation technique (glued intraocular lens) in a United States practice: Outcomes and insights.

PURPOSE: To evaluate intrascleral haptic posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) fixation (glued IOL). SETTING: North American tertiary referral center, private practice. DESIGN: Noncomparative interventional case series. METHODS: A retrospective review of early cases of the technique performed at the same center evaluated outcomes and complications. Based on early experience, 2 modifications were made to the standard technique. The first was to transition to IOLs with more flexible and resilient haptic materials than poly(methyl methacrylate) or polypropylene. Second, the scleral flap was created with a diamond knife and only 2 edges were lifted, leaving the side adjacent to the tunnel uncut. This allowed reliable creation of a scleral tunnel at equal depth to the flap bed and improved ease of subsequent haptic enclavation; it also strengthened the anterior aspect of the tunnel entrance. RESULTS: Fifty PC IOLs were successfully placed with intrascleral haptic fixation by 1 of 3 experienced surgeons to treat a variety of IOL complications or aphakia. Two cases involved the successful placement of iris prostheses. Staged endothelial keratoplasty was performed in 11 cases without complication. No IOL dislocated, decentered, or was unstable. Self-resolving hypotony occurred in 11 eyes (22%). The median visual acuity improved from 20/200 to 20/50. CONCLUSIONS: The glued IOL technique reliably provided secure IOL fixation in the absence of capsule support and successfully treated a variety of IOL complications, aphakia, and aniridia. Minor technique modifications minimized some difficulties associated with this surgery.

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty combined with epithelial debridement and mitomycin-C application for fuchs dystrophy with preoperative subepithelial fibrosis or anterior basement membrane dystrophy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anterior corneal surface regularity and light scattering before and after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with epithelial debridement and application of mitomycin C in Fuchs dystrophy-affected eyes with preoperative subepithelial fibrosis or anterior basement membrane dystrophy. METHODS: In this case-control study, a chart review identified 37 eyes with Fuchs dystrophy and anterior corneal changes evident on preoperative slit lamp examination and that underwent DMEK combined with epithelial removal plus mitomycin-C application. These cases were compared with 83 contemporaneous DMEK procedures performed in eyes with Fuchs dystrophy without clinically evident anterior surface problems (controls). The outcome measures were corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal surface regularity assessed by topography, anterior corneal light scattering by densitometry, endothelial cell loss, and complications. RESULTS: Cases and controls had comparable demographics. Preoperatively, the cases had significantly poorer corneal surface regularity and transparency than did controls (P < 0.0001). Six months postoperatively, the cases achieved comparable CDVA, corneal surface regularity, and transparency as did controls (all P > 0.05), and 77% had a CDVA ≥ 20/25, excluding 2 eyes with preexisting retinal problems. The median 6-month endothelial cell loss was 25% and did not differ significantly between cases and controls (P = 0.31). In 1 case, there was delayed epithelial healing. CONCLUSIONS: Even patients with endothelial dysfunction with anterior stromal changes can realize a significant improvement in corneal surface topography and transparency by undergoing combined epithelial removal with DMEK, and this can preclude the need for a subsequent procedure to address residual corneal surface problems or the need for a penetrating keratoplasty.

Rapid sequential endothelial keratoplasty with and without combined cataract extraction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of bilateral Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) combined with cataract extraction as indicated within a 1- to 2-week timeframe for treatment of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. SETTING: Private practice, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: This retrospective review identified patients who had DMEK in both eyes within 2 weeks. RESULTS: The study comprised 12 patients (median age 61 years). Seven patients had bilateral DMEK 1 week apart and 5 patients, 2 weeks apart. Twelve eyes had triple procedures (cataract extraction, intraocular lens implantation, DMEK), 7 eyes were pseudophakic before DMEK, and 5 eyes had clear lenses and remained phakic after DMEK. Preoperatively, the median corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/40 (range 20/15 to 20/70). By 1 month postoperatively, the median CDVA had improved to 20/25 (range 20/15 to 20/70). The median CDVA in the 10 patients examined between 3 months and 6 months postoperatively was 20/20 (range 20/15 to 20/30). All grafts successfully attached and cleared. Four patients had bilateral air reinjection and 1 patient had unilateral air reinjection to treat partial graft detachment. The rate of air reinjection was comparable between single and triple procedures (P=.65). No other complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with bilateral visual impairment associated with Fuchs dystrophy can have both eyes treated with DMEK within 1 to 2 weeks. With DMEK, corneal transplantation begins to approach cataract surgery in the speed of visual recovery and the time to full resumption of daily activities.

A Technique to Rescue Keratoprosthesis Melts.

PURPOSE: To describe a technique to completely replace the donor corneal carrier of an existing type 1 Boston keratoprosthesis (KPro) that preserves the hardware intact. METHODS: Two eyes with sterile corneal melts around the KPro stem underwent a complete exchange of the donor corneal carrier. Donor corneas were prepared in the usual fashion for KPro and were then left uncovered to dehydrate. Meanwhile, the melted corneas were excised in a manner similar to that for failed penetrating grafts and uncollared from the KPro. The new donors were then sufficiently thinned to slide between the back and front plates; however, to clear the 5.0-mm KPro front plate flange, the central 3.0-mm opening in the replacement donor corneas was first enlarged by means of 2 paired sub-1.0-mm radial relaxing incisions placed 180 degrees apart. Once positioned, the new donor carriers were rehydrated to seal the space between the back and front plates. RESULTS: The full-thickness corneal carrier was successfully replaced in both cases. In 1 case, scarring of the back plate holes caused the plate to behave like an intact Descemet membrane during deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: When an otherwise functional KPro is jeopardized because of disorders of the donor corneal carrier, it can be advantageous to selectively replace the carrier and thus salvage the original KPro. We describe such a rescue technique, which permits the exchange of the corneal carrier without disassembling the KPro.