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PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in eyes with a glaucoma drainage device (GDD). DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional case series. METHODS: Clinical outcomes of 23 DMEK procedures for bullous keratopathy (52%), failed previous transplant (39%), or Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (9%) in 20 eyes (19 patients) with a GDD were retrospectively analyzed at 2 tertiary referral centers. Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), postoperative complications, and graft survival. RESULTS: Mean length of postoperative follow-up after DMEK was 19 (±17) months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed an 89% cumulative graft success rate at 1 year postoperatively. At 1 year postoperatively (n = 15 eyes), BCVA improved by ≥2 Snellen lines in 11 eyes (73%) and remained stable in 4 eyes (27%). Donor ECD decreased by 37% (n = 14), 60% (n = 11), and 71% (n = 11) at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, respectively. Postoperative complications up to 2 years postoperatively comprised pupillary block in 1 eye (successfully reversed by partial air removal), visually significant graft detachment requiring rebubbling in 5 eyes (22%), allograft rejection successfully reversed with topical steroids in 2 eyes (9%), secondary graft failure in 2 eyes (9%), and cataract in 1 of 3 phakic eyes (33%). Re-keratoplasty was required in 2 eyes (9%). CONCLUSIONS: With specific surgical modifications, DMEK provided acceptable clinical outcomes when taking the complexity of these eyes into account. However, presence of a GDD may reduce graft survival times and may pose a risk for more frequent regrafting.
Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery (NIIOS), Rotterdam, Netherlands; Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Amnitrans EyeBank Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Full article12.8.2 With tube implant or other drainage devices (Part of: 12 Surgical treatment > 12.8 Filtering surgery)
9.4.11.4 Glaucomas associated with corneal surgery (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders > 9.4.11 Glaucomas following intraocular surgery)
2.2 Cornea (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)