Comparison of clinical outcomes after precut DMEK with or without dextran-containing medium compared to standard DMEK: a prospective pilot study.
Int Ophthalmol 2021;
42:401-409. [PMID:
34674086 DOI:
10.1007/s10792-021-02056-w]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
To investigate the clinical outcome and complication rate of precut Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in two different culture conditions, dextran-containing and dextran-free medium, and compare the results with the current standard DMEK procedure.
METHODS
A prospective study of 32 eyes suffering from Fuchs endothelial dystrophy were scheduled for DMEK with a follow-up of one year. The eyes were divided into four subgroups. Group + D (n = 7) received a precut DMEK stored in dextran-containing transport medium, and Group - D (n = 9) received a precut DMEK without dextran-containing medium. The respective fellow eyes received a standard DMEK (S) (preparation directly prior to surgery) stored in dextran-containing medium (S-D + ; n = 7) or without (S-D-; n = 9).
RESULTS
Clinical outcome (visual acuity, endothelial cell count, central corneal thickness) and rebubbling rate were comparable for all four groups. None of the patients had a graft failure.
CONCLUSION
The preliminary data of the pilot study show that precut liquid-bubble DMEK leads to comparable clinical results regardless of dextran-containing or dextran-free organ culture medium and is further comparable to the standard DMEK procedure.
Collapse