Korean J Ophthalmol.  2024 Apr;38(2):105-112. 10.3341/kjo.2023.0101.

One-year Outcomes of Ultrathin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty Combined with Cataract Surgery in the Korean Population

• Koo MA
• Yoon HY
• Park JH
• Chung SH
• Kim H
• Byun YS

• KMID: 2554164
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2023.0101

Abstract

Purpose
To evaluate the refractive outcomes after ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation (triple procedure) in the South Korean population.
Methods
This retrospective observational study included 37 eyes of 36 patients who underwent the UT-DSAEK triple procedure between 2012 and 2021 in a single tertiary hospital. Preoperative and postoperative refractive outcomes and endothelial parameters at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were observed.
Results
At the final postoperative 12-month period, the average best-corrected visual acuity was 0.4 ± 0.5 in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. The mean endothelial cell density at 12 months was 1,841.92 ± 731.24 cells/mm², indicating no significant endothelial cell loss compared to the baseline (p = 0.128). The mean postoperative central corneal thickness at 12 months was 597.41 ± 86.26 μm. The postoperative mean absolute error at 12 months was 0.96 ± 0.89 diopters (D) and mean error was 0.89 ± 0.97 D.
Conclusions
The results of our South Korean cohort study on UT-DSAEK triple surgery showed favorable and safe outcomes. Regardless of graft thickness, it should be noted that a hyperopic shift of 1.00 to 2.00 D needs to be considered in the case of UT-DSAEK triple surgery.

Keyword

Corneal transplantation; Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK); Transplantation; Ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK)