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SF6 tamponade reduces graft detachment rate in DMEK
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Tamponade with 20% sulfur hexafluoride was associated with a markedly lower rate of graft detachment than 100% air tamponade in Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty, a study found.
The retrospective study included 81 pseudophakic patients with Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy or pseudophakic bullous keratopathy who underwent DMEK. Tamponade was performed with 20% SF6 in 42 eyes (first group) and 100% air in 39 eyes (second group).
Mean follow-up was 3.2 years in the first group and 3.9 years in the second group.
At 3 years postop, mean logMAR corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.48 to 0.04 in the first group and from 0.67 to 0.09 in the second group. The improvements were statistically significant in both groups (P < .001).
Corrected distance visual acuity was 20/25 or better in 36 eyes in the first group (85.71%) and 32 eyes in the second group (82.05%). The between-group difference was not statistically significant.
Spherical equivalent refraction, cylinder and refractive astigmatism were similar in both groups.
From before surgery to final follow-up, endothelial cell density decreased from 2,525 cells/mm2 to 1,758 cells/mm2 in the first group (mean loss of 30%) and from 2,492 cells/mm2 to 1,678 cells/mm2 in the second group (mean loss of 32%). Endothelial cell loss was significant in both groups (P = .008), but the between-group difference was not significant.
The graft re-bubbling rate was 2.38% in the first group and 12.8% in the second group, which was significantly higher (P = .004). – by Matt Hasson
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Güell JL, et al. Ophthalmology. 2015;doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.05.013.
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