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DMEK offers good visual outcomes in phakic eyes
Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty did not lead to an increased risk for complications and provided good visual outcomes in phakic eyes, according to a study.
The cohort study compared 52 phakic eyes with an age-matched control group of 47 pseudophakic eyes. All study participants had undergone DMEK.
Corrected distance visual acuity, subjective and objective refractions, endothelial cell density, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were examined at 1, 3 and 6 months after DMEK.
Results showed that 69% of phakic eyes reached a corrected distance visual acuity of at least 20/40 within 1 week, and 85% reached at least 20/25 at 6 months. Similar visual rehabilitation rates, final visual outcomes, mean endothelial cell density at 6 months, minor hyperopic shift, and graft detachment rates were seen in both study groups.
“Our study adds to the literature in that it found DMEK can be easily performed in phakic eyes and that leaving the crystalline lens in situ rarely resulted in secondary cataract formation. Also, because better overall optical quality can be achieved in phakic DMEK eyes while sparing the accommodative functions, leaving the (clear) crystalline lens in situ before DMEK can be considered an option,” the study authors said.