No association found between central graft thickness and visual acuity after DSEK

Results of a retrospective analysis did not reveal an association between central graft thickness and visual acuity after Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty.
Researchers evaluated 70 eyes of 61 patients (median age: 75 years) who underwent DSEK between August 2007 and February 2011. Donor lenticules were dissected manually, and serial postoperative measurements of central graft thickness and total corneal thickness were made with anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The researchers collected case notes to determine visual acuity, refraction and patient demographics. 
Nineteen eyes were excluded from the study because of graft failure, pre-existing retinal pathology or death, leaving 51 eyes of 46 patients for analysis. 
Median preoperative visual acuity was 0.71 logMAR. At last follow-up, which occurred around 12 months postoperatively, there was an improvement to 0.34 logMAR (P < .001). From day 1 through follow-up, median graft thickness decreased from 209 µm to 142 µm (P < .001). 
No correlation was found between central total corneal thickness and visual acuity at any time point, according to the study.
“The central thickness of manually dissected donor grafts does not appear to affect [visual acuity],” the researchers wrote. “Similarly, no significant correlation was found between central corneal thickness and [visual acuity] after DSEK. Dissection of thinner lenticules of graft tissue may be unnecessary.”