Visual Outcome of Combined Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty and Sutured Scleral Fixated Intraocular Lens in Endothelial Decompensation with Coexistent Aphakia or Intra Ocular Lens Subluxation

Purpose To elucidate visual outcome of patients after combined Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) with scleral fixated intra ocular lens (SFIOL) implantation in patients of endothelial decompensation with coexistent aphakia or lens subluxation. Materials and Methods A prospective interventional study of combined DSEK with sutured SFIOL in the patients who have undergone surgery at our center over 6-month follow-up period. Preoperative visual acuity and slit lamp findings were documented. Postoperative follow-up was done at days 1, 3, and 7 subsequently, months 1 and 3, and thereafter monthly till the sixth month. Results Mean age of the patients was 60.47 years. Six patients had aphakic bullous keratopathy, while 11 patients had pseudophakic bullous keratopathy with subluxated posterior chamber IOL (PCIOL). Preoperative visual acuity ranged from hand movements close to face (LogMar 2.4) with accurate projection of rays to 1/60 (LogMar 2) due to existing corneal edema and aphakia. Postoperatively uncorrected visual acuity at 6 months improved up to 6/36 (LogMar 0.8) in all cases. There was gradual improvement in corneal clarity and compactness during the follow-up. A good donor tissue endothelial count and an adequate IOP control were vital prognostic factors for the successful outcome. Conclusion This novel surgical merger reduces the complications of lenticule dislocation into vitreous and repeated surgeries and shows results akin to when performed in a staged manner.

Femtosecond laser semi-assisted Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty: 2-year outcomes of endothelial cell loss and graft survival

Purpose To assess 2-year endothelial cell loss and graft survival after femtosecond laser semi-assisted Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (FLS-DSEK). Methods In this prospective and noncomparative study carried out at Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, 85 eyes (84 patients) with endothelial dysfunction receiving FLS-DSEK (n=62, 75.9%) or FLS-DSEK combined with phacoemulsification cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation (n=23, 27.1%) from 2013 through 2016 were included. The graft endothelial cell loss, endothelial graft thickness, visual acuity, and complications after surgery were evaluated. Results Thin endothelial grafts were all successfully prepared, with no occurrence of perforation. The rate of endothelial cell loss was 17.4%, 18.8%, 19.9%, and 26.7%, and the central graft thickness was 113±54 μm, 102±40 μm, 101±28 μm, and 96±23 μm at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. The median best-corrected visual acuity was 0.4 logMAR (range, 0–2 logMAR) at 24 months, demonstrating a significant difference from that before surgery (2 logMAR; range, 0.2–3 logMAR) (T=187.5, P<.001). Partial graft dislocation was the most common postoperative complication, with an occurrence rate of 14% (n=12), and it was associated with an abnormal iris-lens diaphragm (r=.35, P<.001). The other complications included a high intraocular pressure (n=5, 6%), endothelial graft rejection (n=4, 5%), and pupillary block (n=1, 1%). Endothelial graft decompensation occurred in the two eyes, and 98% (n=83) of the grafts survived at 24 months. Conclusions Data of the study suggest that the treatment using FLS-DSEK seems to be promising and might be considered a feasible choice in patients with endothelial dysfunction. Trial registration 1. Date of registration: 2021-02-18 2. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100044091 3. Registration site: https://www.chictr.org.cn/

Experimental rationale for using a viscoprotection of the corneal endothelium on the graft formed with a femtosecond laser for the descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty

Purpose. To rationale experimentally the use of a viscoprotection of the corneal endothelium on the graft formed with a femtosecond laser for the descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty. Material and methods. In our study, we used 12 pig's corneoscleral discs. The preservation time before the experiment averaged 12±4 hours. The corneas were divided into 2 groups. In the operating room, the graft was formed using an LDV Z8 femtosecond laser (Ziemer, Switzerland) from the endothelial side. Before applanation of the donor cornea and femtolaser head, a 1% solution of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was applied to the endothelium - experimental group. The control group was appraised according to the standard technique, with the application of a few drops of a solution for storing the corneas. Then the applanation was monitored and evaluated by laser optical coherence tomography. Then the graft was separated from the bed and transferred to a conservation medium. Under laboratory conditions, to determine the viability of endothelial cells, the graft was stained with a «vital» dye with the commercial name Life and Dead (Abcam, UK) and placed in a confocal laser scanning microscope. Endothelial cells were counted using the ImageJ software. Results. In the experimental and control groups, the number of living endothelial cells (EC) was 91.06±1.49% and 83.86±2.14%, respectively (p<0.001). The number of dead ECs in the control group was 7.2±0.65% more than in the experimental group and amounted to 16.14±2.14% and 8.94±1.49%, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion. The study demonstrated that the use of viscoprotection of the corneal graft endothelium for posterior lamellar keratoplasty is quite effective, and significantly reduces the loss of EC at the stage of cutting out the graft with a femtosecond laser. Key words: descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty, femtosecond laser, vital dyes.

Outcomes of Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty combined with near total iridectomy in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome

To report the outcomes of endothelial keratoplasty (EK) combined with near total iridectomy in the management of iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome with severely disorganised anterior segment. Three patients with ICE syndrome, who had a severely disorganised anterior segment underwent near total iridectomy, with/without cataract surgery, followed by EK at the same time. Mean age was 35 years. Prior to EK, the intraocular pressure (IOP) was in the range of 12–15 mm Hg. One patient (patient 2) had advanced disc damage prior to EK. Two eyes (patients 1 and 2) had a glaucoma drainage device, and in one, the IOP was controlled with two antiglaucoma medications. All grafts were clear, and IOP was well controlled till the last mean follow-up of 53 (range 30–72) months. The outcomes of EK with this surgical approach are favourable and should be considered in selective cases of ICE syndrome.