Previous Penetrating Keratoplasty Research Articles

Clinical Outcomes and Indications of In-Office Sutureless Dried Gamma Ray-Sterilized Human Amniotic Membrane Transplantation With Bandage Contact Lenses in Various Ocular Surface Disorders.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and indications of using dried gamma ray-sterilized amniotic membrane (AM) transplantation with bandage contact lenses for the in-office sutureless treatment of various ocular surface diseases. This study retrospectively included 56 eyes of 52 patients with various ocular surface diseases treated with sutureless dehydrated AM-assisted therapeutic contact lenses. The patients were followed up and assessed 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the treatment, and the therapeutic contact lenses were removed after 1 or 2 weeks. The size of the corneal lesion and the degree of pain experienced by each patient before and after the procedure were measured. Corneal re-epithelization rate and clinical aspects related to re-epithelialization were evaluated. Complete corneal re-epithelialization of the epithelial defect was observed in 40 eyes. The complete re-epithelialization rates of persistent epithelial defect caused by infectious ulcers, neurotrophic ulcers, ulcers due to burn, toxic keratopathy, previous penetrating keratoplasty or other corneal surgeries, and severe dry eye disease were 69.2%, 80.0%, 77.8%, 100%, 75.0%, and 100%, respectively. Five patients with uncontrolled infectious ulcers, neurotrophic ulcer, bullous keratopathy, and ulcers associated with rheumatic disease did not show significant improvement. Patient pain scores significantly decreased after the procedure. Dehydrated AM transplantation with a bandage contact lens is minimally invasive and easily applicable through in-office procedures. This approach is expected to be more actively applied in various ocular surface disorders, not only in severe corneal diseases but also in relatively mild corneal surface diseases.

Clinical and Optical Coherence Tomography Correlation of Recurrence Patterns After Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty in Reis-Bucklers Corneal Dystrophy.

The aim of this study was to report the clinical profile and patterns of recurrence after femtosecond laser-assisted anterior lamellar keratoplasty (FALK) in Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy. This is a case series of 5 eyes of 4 patients with Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy. Clinical images of recurrence were correlated with the high-resolution optical coherence tomography. Histopathologic examination of excised corneal samples was performed when possible. The median time to recurrence was 2 (1-5) years after FALK. Of the 5 eyes, 1 eye had primary FALK, whereas 4 eyes had secondary interventions, which included previous phototherapeutic keratectomy (once in 1 eye and twice in 2 eyes), and previous penetrating keratoplasty, followed by phototherapeutic keratectomy (1 eye). Recurrence was noted at the level of the subepithelium. In addition, 1 eye showed interface deposits along with epithelial downgrowth at the graft-host bed. The 2 distinct patterns of recurrence noted were at the subepithelial region and the interface. The clinical patterns of recurrence favor an epithelial origin of recurrent deposits.

Suture Fixation to Reduce Graft Detachment in Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty.

The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of graft fixation using interrupted, full-thickness sutures on graft detachment after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). All DSEK procedures performed at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, from 2015 through 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Risk factors for graft detachment were defined as previous incisional glaucoma surgery, previous penetrating keratoplasty, or absence of the normal lens-capsule barrier. Cases were categorized into sutured, high-risk grafts; unsutured, high-risk grafts; and unsutured, low-risk grafts. The primary outcome was graft detachment, and secondary outcomes were early graft failure and graft clarity at 12 months after surgery. Demographics between the high-risk groups were similar for sex and age at the time of surgery. Graft detachment occurred in 4 of 97 sutured, high-risk eyes (4.1%) and 24 of 119 unsutured high-risk eyes (20.2%) ( P = 0.002). In comparison, graft detachment occurred in 18 of 181 unsutured low-risk eyes (9.9%). The incidence of early graft failure was 2.1%, 5.0%, and 3.3% and late graft failure by 12 months was 9.8%, 12.8%, and 4.2%, respectively. In eyes with high-risk factors for graft detachment, suture fixation of the graft in DSEK decreased graft detachment to a rate at least as low as that in low-risk eyes.

Comparison of repeat penetrating keratoplasty, DSAEK and DMEK for the management of endothelial failure of previous PK

PurposeTo compare the clinical outcomes of repeat PK, DSAEK-on-PK or DMEK-on-PK for the management of endothelial failure of previous penetrating keratoplasty.DesignRetrospective, interventional consecutive case series.Participants104 consecutive eyes of 100 patients requiring a second keratoplasty for endothelial failure of their primary penetrating keratoplasty performed between September 2016 and December 2020.InterventionRepeat keratoplasty.Main outcome measuresSurvival and visual acuity at 12 and 24 months, rebubbling rate and complications.ResultsRepeat PK was performed in 61/104 eyes (58.7%), DSAEK-on-PK was performed in 21/104 eyes (20.2%) and DMEK-on-PK was performed in 22/104 eyes (21.2%). Failure rates in the first 12 and 24 months were 6.6% and 20.6% for repeat PKs compared to 19% and 30.6% for DSAEK and 36.4% and 41.3% for DMEK. For those grafts surviving 12 months, the chances of surviving to 24 months were greatest for DMEK-on-PK at 92% vs 85% each for redo PK and DSAEK-on-PK. Visual acuity at one year was logMAR 0.53 ± 0.51 in the redo PK group, 0.25 ± 0.17 for DSAEK-on-PK and 0.30 ± 0.38 for DMEK-on-PK. 24-month outcomes were 0.34 ± 0.28, 0.08 ± 0.16, and 0.36 ± 0.36 respectively.ConclusionsDMEK-on-PK has a greater failure rate in the first 12 months than DSAEK-on-PK which has a greater failure rate than redo PK. However, the 2-year survival rates in our series for those already surviving 12 months were greatest for DMEK-on-PK. There was no significant difference in visual acuity at 12 or 24 months. Careful patient selection is needed by experienced surgeons to determine which procedure to offer to patients.

Outcomes of Descemet's membrane keratoplasty in graft failure after penetrating keratoplasty.

To analyze the outcomes and identify the risk factors of failure in Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for graft failure after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Medical records and surgical videos of patients who underwent DMEK for graft failure after PKP were reviewed in this retrospective study. Demographic data, the indication for PKP, number of previous PKPs, duration between the last PKP and graft failure, graft diameter at the last PKP, best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR) before and after DMEK, preoperative additional ocular diseases, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Descemet's membrane (DM) attachment was examined on the first day and the first month, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up visit. The patients were divided into two groups according to DM attachment at the last visit (group 1, patients with attached DM; group 2, patients with DM detachment). Twenty eyes of 20 patients were included in this study. At the last follow-up visit, DM was attached in 13 (65%) patients (Group 1) and detached in 7 (35%) cases (Group 2). The BCVA was improved significantly after DMEK in all patients (2.10 ± 0.4, preoperatively; 1.09 ± 0.8, postoperatively; p = 0.005). There were no significant differences between groups, in terms of age, the number and indication for PKP, the time between the last PKP and DMEK, or history of glaucoma. PKP was performed in all patients in group 2. DMEK is a feasible option with fast visual recovery and a low risk of complications in patients with graft failure after PKP. We found no risk factors for the DM graft detachment, so larger studies are needed to analyze intraoperative or donor-related factors as well.

Immunohistochemical Findings in Retrocorneal Membranes of Eyes with Corneal Decompensation after Complicated Intraocular Surgery.

Retrocorneal membranes (RCMs) may result from epithelial ingrowth, stromal keratocytic downgrowth, fibrous metaplasia of the corneal endothelium, or a combination of these processes. In an institutional case series, the clinical history, ocular findings, and immunohistochemical staining results of RCMs were analysed in patients with unilateral corneal decompensation after complicated intraocular surgery. Between January 2021 and September 2022, six retrocorneal membranes were excised during Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) procedures and classified after screening with haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, elastic van Gieson staining, and immunohistochemical screening with cytokeratin 7 (CK7), anti-cytokeratin (CAM5.2 and AE1/3), cell surface glycoprotein CD34, smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and vimentin. On the basis of the immunohistochemical screening, the majority of excised RCMs (5 of 6) could histopathologically be classified as membranes originating from fibrous metaplasia of the corneal endothelium. All these RCMs were positive for CK7, α-SMA, and vimentin and negative for CAM5.2 and CD34. In one patient, an RCM had developed after 18 days of corneal contact to a free-floating dexamethasone implant in the anterior chamber and was classified as originating from stromal keratocyte downgrowth (α-SMA- and vimentin-positive, all others negative). All eyes in this series had a previous history of complicated cataract surgery, partially with subsequent intraocular lens exchange. No eyes after previous penetrating keratoplasty were in this series. In this series of eyes with previous complicated intraocular interventions (in most cases cataract surgery and revisions), the dominating RCM belonged to the type originating from fibrous metaplasia of the corneal endothelium.

Laser in situ keratomileusis versus Artisan lens implantation in correcting ametropia after penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus

PurposeTo compare the long-term safety and efficacy of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with Artisan phakic intraocular lens implantation to correct refractive errors after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus.MethodsThis retrospective comparative interventional case series included a total of 33 consecutive keratoconus eyes that had previous PK and received subsequent LASIK (n = 16) or Artisan lens implantation (n = 17) were included in this study. Outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refractive error, and complications.ResultsPostoperatively, the UDVA of ≥20/40 was achieved in none of the LASIK group compared to 62.5% of eyes in the Artisan group (P < 0.001); the respective values for CDVA of ≥20/40 were 87.5 and 94.1% (P = 0.51). Spherical equivalent refraction decreased from − 6.97 ± 1.50 D preoperatively to − 4.20 ± 2.05 D postoperatively in the LASIK group (P < 0.001) and from − 10.79 ± 2.15 D preoperatively to − 2.13 ± 1.23 D postoperatively in the Artisan group (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the refractive astigmatism in LASIK group (P = 0.30) or Artisan group (P = 0.11). The efficacy and safety indices were significantly better for Artisan (0.82 ± 0.34 and 1.13 ± 0.30, respectively) than for LASIK (0.22 ± 0.17 and 0.85 ± 0.24, respectively, P ≤ 0.006 for both comparisons). While refractive error changed significantly from postoperative year 3 to the final visit in the LASIK group, it remained stable in the Artisan group through follow-up period. No significant complications were observed in any group.ConclusionArtisan lens implantation provided superior and stable visual outcomes compared to LASIK for the management of post PK refractive errors in keratoconus eyes.

Reticular Epithelial Edema in a Postkeratoplasty Eye Due to Ripasudil.

A 34-year-old female underwent phacoemulsification with Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (Supplementary Digital Content, Fig. 1A, B, http://links.lww.com/APJO/ A132) under a failed previous therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. The visual acuity was restored to 20/50. At 2 years postoperative period, she developed raised intraocular pressure of 30 mm Hg despite being on 2 antiglaucoma medications, and hence ripasudil was initiated as an additional antiglaucoma medication. The endothelial cell density was 920 cells/mm.1Figure 1: Slitlamp image (A) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (B) illustrating reticular edema in superficial cornea after 4 months of ripasudil use.Her intraocular pressure at 1 month of starting ripasudil was 12 mm Hg. Subsequently, 3 months later, she presented with counting finger vision, honeycomb edema in the superficial cornea (Fig. 1). Ripasudil was discontinued and 1 month later, although the epithelial net-like pattern disappeared, the graft was diffusely edematous and failed to recover the clarity until a follow-up of 3 months (Supplementary Digital Content, Fig. 1C, D, http://links.lww.com/APJO/A132) when repeat endothe-lial keratoplasty was planned. Rho kinase inhibitors have gained popularity in the management of glaucoma and corneal endothelial diseases.2 Ripasudil and netarsudil are Rho kinase inhibitors approved for clinical use. Reticular bullous epithelial edema has been reported with the use of 0.02% netarsudil, which improves in some eyes after the medication is discontinued.1 In our patient, similar pattern of edema was noted with 0.4% ripasudil after 4 months of treatment, which failed to resolve on discontinuing ripasudil. The reticular epithelial edema during ripasudil treatment should be distinguished from graft rejection. The medication should be stopped promptly if cornea edema is noted. The likelihood of nonclearance of edema should be explained to the patients.

Incidence and risk factors for glaucoma development and progression after corneal transplantation.

To assess the cumulative incidence and risk factors for glaucoma development and progression within 1-2 years following corneal transplant surgery. Retrospective cohort study. Patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty (PK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK), Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), Boston keratoprosthesis type I (KPro) implantation, or endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK or DMEK) under previous PK (EK under previous PK) at one academic institution with at least 1 year of follow-up were included. Primary outcome measures were cumulative incidence of glaucoma development and progression after corneal transplant, in patients without and with preoperative glaucoma, respectively. Risk factors for glaucoma development and progression were also assessed. Four hundred and thirty-one eyes of 431 patients undergoing PK (113), DALK (17), DSEK (71), DMEK (168), KPro (35) and EK under previous PK (27) with a mean follow-up of 22.9 months were analyzed. The 1-year cumulative incidence for glaucoma development and progression was 28.0% and 17.8% in patients without and with preoperative glaucoma, respectively. In a Cox proportional hazards analysis, DSEK surgery, KPro implantation, average intraocular pressure (IOP) through follow-up and postoperative IOP spikes of ≥30 mmHg were each independently associated with glaucoma development or progression (p < 0.04 for all). A significant proportion of patients developed glaucoma or exhibited glaucoma progression within 1 year after corneal transplantation. Patient selection for DSEK may partly explain the higher risk for glaucoma in these patients. Postoperative IOP spikes should be minimized and may indicate the need for co-management with a glaucoma specialist.

Alterations in the ocular surface and tear film following keratoplasty

The purpose of this study was to evaluate any alterations in the tear film and ocular surface beyond the early postoperative period following penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). This cross-sectional, contralateral-eye study compared ocular surface and tear film parameters of eyes with a previous PK or DALK in one eye and no prior surgery in the contralateral eye. Overall, 14 (87.5%) participants underwent PK, and 2 (12.5%) underwent DALK using a mechanical dissection. The median time from surgery was 3.4 years (range 1.5 to 38.7 years). The indication for unilateral keratoplasty was keratoconus in 15 (94%) participants, and corneal scarring in 1 (6%) eye, secondary to microbial keratitis. Operated eyes exhibited poorer non-invasive tear film breakup time, lower corneal sensitivity, lower sub-basal nerve density and more severe fluorescein staining scores than unoperated fellow eyes (all Q < 0.05). There were no significant differences in tear film lipid layer quality, tear meniscus height, conjunctival hyperaemia, lissamine green staining score, or meibography grade between operated and fellow eyes (all Q ≥ 0.20). Higher corneal esthesiometry threshold (lower corneal sensitivity) was correlated with shorter non-invasive tear film breakup time (Spearman’s rho = − 0.361, p = 0.04) and increased fluorescein staining score (Spearman’s rho = 0.417, p = 0.02). Keratoplasty can induce persistent changes in the ocular surface and tear film, including: increased fluorescein staining, decreased tear film breakup time, decreased corneal sub-basal nerve plexus density, and reduced corneal sensitivity.

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty in complex eyes.

To review the current literature on Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in complex eyes. DMEK surgery has become a standardized procedure in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy and simple bullous keratopathy. But eyes with more complex disease present unique intraoperative and postoperative challenges to the DMEK surgeon. Poor visualization during surgery, complex anterior segment anatomy, altered anterior chamber dynamics, glaucoma shunts, and congenital or iatrogenic missing or altered iris and lens make DMEK surgery extremely difficult to accomplish. DMEK is feasible in complex eyes, including advanced bullous keratopathy, eyes with history of glaucoma or vitreoretinal surgery, previous penetrating keratoplasty, uveitis, pediatric, and congenital anterior segment disorders. The tools and methods reported in the literature to accomplish DMEK in complex eyes vary widely with no particular consensus or standardization of techniques. The outcomes noted for some of these conditions demonstrate the difficulty of the surgery and the uncertainty of long-term graft survival in complex eyes. Both surgical standardization and randomized prospective data will better help elucidate DMEK's role in the corneal rehabilitation of complex eyes.

DMEK after penetrating keratoplasty: cohort with DMEK grafts and descemetorhexis larger than full-thickness graft

PurposeThe study aims to evaluate visual outcome, central corneal thickness, and rebubbling rate in a cohort with oversized DMEK grafts after failed penetrating keratoplasty (PK). The unique feature of the study is a descemetorhexis diameter larger than the full-thickness graft, i.e., peripheral to the PK interface.MethodsA monocentric, retrospective evaluation of all patients with endothelial graft failure after PK treated with an oversized DMEK graft and descemetorhexis outside of the PK interface (i.e., in host tissue) between January 2015 and July 2019 at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Düsseldorf (Germany) was performed.ResultsEleven eyes of 10 patients were identified. Mean age was 69 years. On average (arithmetic mean ± standard deviation), 1.7 ± 1.0 previous PKs have been performed per eye in this cohort. The mean time between last PK and DMEK was 10.1 ± 7.3 years (range 2 to 23 years). In all cases, the graft diameter exceeded the diameter of the previous PK and descemetorhexis was performed in host tissue, that is, peripheral to the graft-host interface. Rebubbling was performed in 18.2% of the patients (n = 2 eyes) because of central graft detachment. Mean central corneal thickness showed a statistically significant improvement at 5.3 ± 3.5 months after surgery from 688.23 ± 151.01 to 527.75 ± 88 µm (p = 0.002).Visual acuity increased significantly by 5 lines from 1.24 ± 0.5 logMAR (range from 0.5 to 2) to 0.73 ± 0.76 logMAR (range from 0.1 to 2) within 3 months (p = 0.006). Excluding patients without visual potential and transplant failure, visual acuity improved significantly by 8 lines (p < 0.001), and stayed stable until the last follow-up at 15.1 ± 11.4 months (range 6 to 39 months, p < 0.001, n = 8) after surgery.ConclusionDMEK can be successfully used to treat endothelial cell failure after PK, and can provide good postoperative results with regards to visual acuity. This study shows that stripping of Descemet’s membrane (DM) peripheral to the PK interface is surgically feasible. Overlapping, larger DMEK grafts with more endothelial cells can be used without increasing rebubbling rates and may potentially improve long-term graft survival.

Large-Diameter Penetrating Keratoplasties are Mostly Due to Very Severe Infectious Keratitis and Cannot Always Prevent Secondary Enucleation.

To report the indications and outcomes of penetrating keratoplasties with a graft diameter > 8.5 mm in severe corneal diseases at the Department of Ophthalmology at Saarland University Medical Centre. Retrospective (6 years), descriptive, and observational. Thirty-five large-diameter penetrating keratoplasties (LDPKPs) in 27 patients (mean age, 62 ± 22 years) were performed from March 2010 to December 2016. The indication for surgery, number of previous corneal transplantations, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before surgery, intraocular pressure, graft status, and BCVA at last follow-up were recorded. Infectious keratitis represented 83% of the indications (of those, 45% fungal). The mean corneal graft diameter was 10.8 ± 1.7 (min 8.75, max 15.0) mm. Twenty-three eyes (65% absolute) had at least one previous penetrating keratoplasty (mean graft size, 9.2 ± 1.6 mm). The mean pre-surgery BCVA was 1.96 ± 0.23 logMAR. With a mean follow-up period of 20.2 ± 13.4 months, the mean BCVA was 1.57 ± 0.57 logMAR at last follow-up. Overall, 12 grafts (35%) remained clear until the last follow-up, and in 23 grafts (65%), the primary disease recurred, or corneal decompensation developed. Up to the last follow-up, 6 eyes (17%) had to be enucleated. In complex cases of infectious keratitis requiring a LDPKP to remove the complete pathology and preserve eye integrity, the visual outcomes are generally expected to be poor, not only because of the well-known risks of LDPKP but also because of the consequences of the infectious disease itself. This knowledge is important for adequate counselling of the patient preoperatively.

Stromal peeling for deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty in post-penetrating keratoplasty eyes

Background/aimsTo evaluate the clinical outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty performed by stromal peeling in eyes that have previously undergone penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus.MethodsStandardised stromal exchange included (1) 9...

Clinical Review of Microbial Corneal Ulcers Resulting in Enucleation and Evisceration in a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Hungary.

Purpose To analyse the clinical and microbiological characteristics and preexisting ophthalmic and systemic conditions of infectious keratitis resulting in enucleation/evisceration in a large tertiary referral center in a developed country (Hungary) over a period of 12 years. Patients and Methods. A retrospective review of enucleated/eviscerated eyes undergoing surgery between 2007 and 2018 at the Department of Ophthalmology of Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, with infectious keratitis as the primary indication for enucleation or evisceration. For each subject, clinical history, B-scan ultrasound report, and microbiological analyses were reviewed. Results There were 48 enucleated/eviscerated eyes from 47 patients (29 females (61.7%), age at the time of surgery 66.4 ± 18.5 years). Indication for surgery was hopeless, unmanageable keratitis (62.5%), and keratitis with endophthalmitis (37.5%). The most common preexisting ophthalmic conditions were previous cataract surgery (60.4%), previous therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) (56.3%), corneal perforation (52.1%), glaucoma (41.7%), and long-term topical steroid usage (31.3%). In order to treat keratitis, before enucleation or evisceration, 20 eyes (41.7%) underwent PKP, 12 eyes (25.0%) amniotic membrane transplantation, 8 eyes (16.7%) conjunctival autograft transplantation, 6 eyes (12.5%) tarsorrhaphy, and 4 eyes (8.3%) vitrectomy to salvage the eye prior to the final treatment of enucleation or evisceration. The most frequent preexisting systemic diseases were hypertension (62.5%), cardiac disease (20.8%), diabetes mellitus (20.8%), and rheumatoid arthritis (14.6%). Staphylococcus aureus (17.0%) and Propionibacterium acnes (12.8%) were the most commonly isolated gram-positive bacteria, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated gram-negative pathogen bacterium (10.6%). Six globes (12.5%) had positive fungal cultures (1 case of Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Trichosporon inkin, Acremonium sp., Fusarium sp., and Penicillium sp.). Conclusions Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis with or without endophthalmitis represent the most common indication for ocular enucleation/evisceration in patients with microbial keratitis in a tertiary referral center in Hungary. The incidence of enucleation and evisceration related to mycotic keratitis does not seem to have increased within the last decade. Most frequent preexisting systemic diseases in cases of enucleation and evisceration are hypertension, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Safety and efficacy of a small-aperture capsular bag-fixated intraocular lens in eyes with severe corneal irregularities.

To implant a small-aperture intraocular lens (IOL) (IC-8) in eyes with severe corneal irregularities to reduce higher-order aberrations and provide better central visual acuity. University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany. Prospective nonrandomized interventional case series. Eyes with severe corneal irregularities due to keratoconus, previous penetrating keratoplasty, status postradial keratotomy, or scarring after ocular trauma were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were progressive keratoconus, pseudoexfoliation, glaucoma, maculopathy, reduced endothelial cells (<1800 cells/mm), and central corneal opacity. Conventional phacoemulsification with implantation of the small-aperture IOL was performed. The primary efficacy endpoint was corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA), and uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA). Secondary endpoints were life quality assessment using the Visual Function Questionnaire-25 and determination of the refractive defocus curve. Seventeen eyes of 17 patients were enrolled. In all 17 patients, CDVA improved from 0.37 ± 0.09 to 0.19 ± 0.06 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) 3 months postoperatively (P < .0001). Similarly, postoperative UDVA, UIVA, and UNVA improved significantly in 100%, 88%, and 88%, respectively. The defocus curve showed best results at 0.17 logMAR with a defocus of -0.5 diopter. In addition, overall life quality analyses reported less difficulty with activities under reduced optical phenomena conditions. The small-aperture IOL was a useful option in eyes with severe corneal irregularities, had a high safety index and a high satisfaction rate, and can lead to better visual quality in these cases. Further studies are needed to improve power calculation of this IOL.

Outcomes of corneal transplantation using donor corneas retrieved from patients with chronic kidney disease

Purpose:To report the outcomes of corneal transplantation utilizing corneas retrieved from donors with chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods:Outcomes of corneal transplantation (optical PK and EK) performed from Jan 2018 to Dec 2018 utilizing donor corneas retrieved from CKD patients was performed retrospectively.Results:Of the total of 233 donor corneas retrieved from CKD, 135 (57.9%) were utilized for transplantation after the routine screening protocol of the eye bank. Mean age of the donors was 56.2 ± 13.5 years. The mean endothelial cell density on specular microscopy of the donor corneas used for optical PK was 2685.7 ± 377.6 cells/mm2 (range, 2028–3448 cells/mm2) and for EK was 2731.7 ± 189.1 cells/mm2 (range, 2380–3194 cells/mm2). The overall primary graft failure rate was 5.1%. All grafts except 1, cleared in the PK group. In the EK group (6 DMEK and 16 DSAEK), 1 patient had a complete graft detachment and another 1 had a primary graft failure after DMEK.Conclusion:The donor corneas retrieved from chronic kidney disease patients are safe and suitable for optical keratoplasty provided they meet the criteria for transplantation.

Treatment Limitations With PROSE (Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem): One Centers Experience.

The prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem (PROSE) device is used to treat difficult-to-manage ocular surface disease (OSD) and ectasia. Previous studies have demonstrated positive treatment outcomes. This study aims to document treatment failures to better tailor treatment and address limitations with its use. Retrospective chart review of consecutive PROSE fits performed at Northwell Health from 2012 to 2016. Reasons for patient discontinuation of treatment were documented, and potential risk factors for treatment failure were assessed. The total number of eyes treated was 125. Fifty five eyes had ectasia, 67 had OSD, and 3 had both ectasia and OSD. A total of 8/125 (6.4%) of eyes failed treatment; 6/8 (75%) of failed treatments had worsening corneal edema, all of which had presumed risk factors for lower endothelial cell counts. Two eyes discontinued use secondary to intractable debris on the device, blurring vision. The most common diseases in patients failing therapy in descending order included: keratoconus and Fuch's dystrophy, ectasia after penetrating keratoplasty, and graft versus host disease. Those with presumed risks factors for lower endothelial cell counts (Fuch's dystrophy and patients with previous penetrating keratoplasty) were more likely to fail (22.2%) compared with those without a risk of a low endothelial cell count (1.6%). Although PROSE use has high success, corneal edema secondary to endothelial dysfunction is a potential limitation that may lead to treatment failure. Patients with lower endothelial cell counts after penetrating keratoplasty or with Fuch's dystrophy were more likely to fail treatment.

Peripheral Reconstructive Lamellar Keratoplasty for Late Ectasia After Penetrating Keratoplasty in Keratoconus Eyes.

To describe outcomes of customized peripheral anterior lamellar keratoplasty (PALK) for late ectasia of the donor-recipient junction after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus. This was a single-center, retrospective review of 33 eyes (28 patients) that developed ectasia restricted to the graft-host junction; 17 eyes underwent PALK using lamellar resections of 8- to 11-mm width starting at the external margin of the previous PK and suturing a same-size donor graft (annular or segmental). Five eyes were excluded from analysis because of postoperative complications unrelated to the technique. The average time between PK and diagnosis of secondary ectasia was 28 years (range 9-49 years). Slit-lamp examination showed localized thinning and elongation of the scar at the graft-host junction with well-defined biomicroscopic limits. Preoperatively, the mean keratometric measures were K1: 44.8 ± 4.8 D and K2: 54.1 ± 4.8 D and postoperatively K1: 47.5 ± 3.5 D and K2: 50.8 ± 2.6 D. The mean improvement in corrected visual acuity was 10 lines, and mean cylinder improved from 9.3 ± 2.1 D to 3.3 ± 1.4 D. All cases showed anatomical and refractive improvement. With long-term follow-up, late post-PK ectasia becomes an increasing problem. PALK can be a successful surgical option to reinforce the ectatic area while preserving a functional clear PK. By adding donor corneal tissue, PALK restores the ectatic area, improves visual acuity, keratometric values, and astigmatism, and preserves the functional graft while avoiding the higher risks of a larger diameter PK.

Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in failed penetrating keratoplasty patients: graft survival rate and its associated factors

Objective: To explore graft survival rate and its associated factors of DSAEK in patients with endothelial decompensation after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Methods: A retrospective case study was conducted, including 51 patients (51 eyes) that underwent DSAEK for endothelial decompensation after PKP in Department of Ophthalmology in Peking University Third Hospital from June 2009 to September 2017. The mean recipient age was (43.3±21.0) years. There were 36 males and 15 females. Data comprising demographic details,surgical methods, complications,follow-up durations,final states of grafts,preoperative and postoperative risk factors were collected. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine the cumulative probability of graft survival. Cox regression model was developed to examine for factors associated with graft survival. Results: Among 51 eyes,the overall graft survival rate was 78%(40/51). The cumulative probability was 85% (95%CI: 0.73-0.96) and 69% (95%CI: 0.52-0.86) at 1 year and 2 years, respectively. The median survival time was 42 months. The diameter of DSAEK graft and postoperative intraocular pressure correlated with the long-term survival of graft. Larger diameter of DSAEK graft was a protective factor for graft survival (HR=0.29, 95%CI: 0.12-0.73), while postoperative high intraocular pressure was a risk factor (HR=1.08, 95%CI: 1.00-1.16, HR=1.10, 95%CI:1.01-1.12). Recipient age, sex, lens status, the number of previous PKPs and previous glaucoma surgery had no significant effect on long-term survival (P>0.05). Conclusions: DSAEK is an effective treatment for endothelial decompensation after PKP,with favorable graft survival rate. Larger diameter of graft is beneficial to the long-term survival,while high postoperative intraocular pressure is a risk factor for graft failure. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55: 428-434).