Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial: Two-Year Results from a Randomized Trial Comparing Ultrathin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty with Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty

Abstract

The Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial (DETECT) was a randomized, controlled, 2-surgeon, patient- and outcome assessor-masked clinical trial comparing ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). 1 Chamberlain W. Lin C.C. Austin A. et al. Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial: a randomized trial comparing ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty. Ophthalmology. 2019; 126: 19-26 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (48) Google Scholar It found visual acuity of approximately 1.5 lines better among those randomized to DMEK at 6 and 12 months; however, some evidence also suggested that endothelial cell loss (ECL) and complication rates were higher among DMEK patients. Currently, it is not known how these differences might affect longer-term surgical outcomes, thereby modifying the comparative assessment of risks and benefits between the 2 surgical techniques. Herein, we report on the 24-month outcomes of the DETECT.