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DSAEK yields better contrast sensitivity, induces less astigmatism than PK
Cornea. 2009;28(5):485-488.
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Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty offered better visual outcomes and higher patient satisfaction than penetrating keratoplasty, according to a study.
“Patients preferred the DSAEK operation compared with [PK],” the study authors said. “Better uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, together with avoidance of surgery-induced astigmatism and [higher-order aberrations] are the main benefits of the DSAEK technique.”
The retrospective cohort study included 24 eyes of 12 patients who underwent PK in one eye and DSAEK in the fellow eye. Investigators used a questionnaire to gauge patient satisfaction for both procedures. They also compared both procedures’ intraoperative and postoperative complications, visual and refractive outcomes such as contrast acuity, contrast threshold and higher-order aberrations.
All patients preferred DSAEK over PK. They reported recovery 1.5 weeks after DSAEK and 5.3 weeks after PK (P = .01). DSAEK yielded better visual outcomes and markedly less pain than PK. DSAEK also produced appreciably less astigmatism (P = .0003) and ametropia than PK.
DSAEK eyes had markedly better contrast acuity, but PK eyes had better contrast threshold. PK eyes had increased higher-order aberrations, the authors said.