Does lamellar surgery for keratoconus experience the popularity it deserves?

Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty and Bowman Layer Transplantation: An Anatomic Review and Historical Survey

For nearly a century, the definitive treatment of many corneal dystrophies and ectactic disorders was limited to penetrating keratoplasty, but over the past 2 decades, a surge of surgical innovation has propelled the treatment of many corneal diseases to more targeted approaches with significantly better visual outcomes. Anterior stromal diseases were first changed through endothelial-sparing techniques, such as deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, but have more recently transitioned to stromal-sparing approaches. Ultraviolet corneal crosslinking strengthens the cornea and halts progression of keratoconus in >90% of cases. Intracorneal ring segment and corneal allogenic ring segment implantation offer methods to flatten ectatic corneas. However, Bowman layer transplantation - inlay and more recently onlay techniques - has shown promise for treating advanced keratoconus and preventing keratoplasty. The advent of endothelial keratoplasty radically changed the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction, and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty specifically offers an average postoperative visual acuity of 20/25 (0.8) with only 8.8% of grafts requiring retransplantation in the first 5 years. Here, we review the rapid innovations for surgical treatment of corneal diseases, spanning from endothelial keratoplasty and endothelial regeneration to anterior lamellar keratoplasty and stromal augmentation, highlighting key steps which may be moving us closer to a "postkeratoplasty" world.

A novel blunt dissection technique to treat modified deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK)-associated high astigmatism

OBJECTIVES

To describe a new surgical technique to correct a high astigmatism following modified deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and to evaluate the associated clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Retrospective interventional case series included eyes with high astigmatism following modified DALK performed between July 2012 and June 2016. The prevalence of keratometric astigmatism (KA) higher than 4.5 diopters (D) was evaluated after complete suture removal. Surgical correction was obtained by opening the surgical wound at the steeper meridian and carrying out a blunt dissection at the graft-host surface of contact under keratoscopic control. KA, Refractive astigmatism (RA), and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) were measured preoperatively and at 1, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Vector analysis of 1 year change in KA was performed.

RESULTS

High astigmatism was found in 47 of 511 eyes (9.2%). KA (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) decreased from 7.67 ± 2.78 to 3.10 ± 1.37 D at 1 month after astigmatic correction (p < 0.001) with no subsequent significant change. Vector analysis of 1 year change in KA: surgically induced astigmatism was 5.30 ± 3.29 D and mean absolute angle of error was 6.97 ± 4.25°. BSCVA improved from 0.21 ± 0.20 logMAR preoperatively to 0.11 ± 0.13 logMAR (p < 0.001); RA decreased from 6.32 ± 2.56 to 2.61 ± 1.05 D (p < 0.001). No intra- or post-operative complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

High astigmatism is present in <10% of cases after modified DALK and can be effectively managed by means of blunt relaxing dissection at the graft-host junction.

Changing Practice Patterns and Long-term Outcomes of Endothelial Versus Penetrating Keratoplasty: A Prospective Dutch Registry Study

PURPOSE

To compare graft survival, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), and refraction following penetrating keratoplasty (PK) vs endothelial keratoplasty (EK) for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK).

DESIGN

Nonrandomized treatment comparison with national registry data.

METHODS

All consecutive patients undergoing first keratoplasty for FED and PBK between 1998 and 2014 were analyzed, with a maximum follow-up of 5 years (mean ± SD follow-up 39 ± 20 months, range 0-60 months). Graft survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis. BCVA, ECD, and refractive error were compared using linear mixed models. Main outcome measures were graft survival, BCVA, refraction, and ECD.

RESULTS

A total of 5115 keratoplasties (PK = 2390; EK = 2725) were identified. Two-year graft survival following EK was lower compared with PK (94.5% vs 96.3%, HR = 1.56, P = .001). Five-year survival was comparable for EK and PK (93.4% vs 89.7%, HR = 0.89, P = .261). EK graft survival improved significantly over time while remaining stable for PK. One-year BCVA was better following EK vs PK (0.34 vs 0.47 logMAR, P < .001). Astigmatism was lower 1 year after EK vs PK (-1.69 vs -3.52 D, P < .001). One-year ECD was lower after EK vs PK (1472 vs 1859 cells/mm², P < .001). At 3 years, ECD did not differ between EK and PK.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term graft survival after EK and PK is high and comparable despite lower short-term survival for EK. EK graft survival improved over time, suggesting a learning curve. EK results in better BCVA, lower astigmatism, and similar long-term ECD compared with PK for FED and PBK.

Trends in penetrating and anterior lamellar corneal grafting techniques for keratoconus: a national registry study

PURPOSE

Keratoconus is a progressive disorder and one of the primary indications for corneal transplantation. Anterior lamellar keratoplasty offers several advantages over other techniques, including endothelial preservation and longer graft survival. In this study, we examined the recent trend of using lamellar techniques for keratoconus at a national level.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Dutch national organ transplant database regarding corneal transplants for keratoconus performed in 2005 through 2014. Baseline characteristics for patients undergoing various techniques were obtained, and temporal trends were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 1041 operations were performed, including 736 penetrating keratoplasties (PKPs) and 297 anterior lamellar keratoplasties (ALKs). The mean age of the total surgical group was 37.4 ± 13.4 years, and 68% of patients were male (p = 0.0001). Preoperative patient characteristics were reported in all 1041 cases. The relative proportion of ALKs increased from 2005 (19% of cases) to 2010 (39% of cases) and remained approximately 30-40% thereafter. Descemet baring or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) was increasingly applied and was the predominant anterior lamellar technique performed from 2009 onwards.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of corneal transplantations performed annually for keratoconus decreased during the past 10 years. Lamellar techniques were increasingly performed, accounting for approximately 35% of keratoplasties in 2010 and thereafter. Among ALK techniques, maximal depth DALK is the most prevalent keratoplasty performed for keratoconus in most recent years. Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) is still common, with a stable frequency from 2010 onwards.

Treatment options for advanced keratoconus: A review

Traditionally, the mainstay of treatment for advanced keratoconus (KC) has been either penetrating or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (PK or DALK, respectively). The success of both operations, however, has been somewhat tempered by potential difficulties and complications, both intraoperatively and postoperatively. These include suture and wound-healing problems, progression of disease in the recipient rim, allograft reaction, and persistent irregular astigmatism. Taken together, these have been the inspiration for an ongoing search for less troublesome therapeutic alternatives. These include ultraviolet crosslinking and intracorneal ring segments, both of which were originally constrained in their indication exclusively to eyes with mild to moderate disease. More recently, Bowman layer transplantation has been introduced for reversing corneal ectasia in eyes with advanced KC, re-enabling comfortable contact lens wear and permitting PK and DALK to be postponed or avoided entirely. We offer a summary of the current and emerging treatment options for advanced KC, aiming to provide the corneal specialist useful information in selecting the optimal therapy for individual patients.