EEBA Program (PDF/3MB) - EEBA - Annual Meeting

MID-TERM RESULTS ON VISUAL ACUITY AND STABILITY AFTER DESCEMET MEMBRANEENDOTHELIAL KERATOPLASTY (DMEK)E. A. Groeneveld-van Beek1,2, L. Ham1,3, K. van Dijk1,3, I. Dapena1,3, G. R.J. Melles1,2,31Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery; 2Amnitrans EyeBank Rotterdam; 3Melles Cornea ClinicRotterdam, The NetherlandsPurpose: To report on the mid-term visual outcomes and stability after Descemet membraneendothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).Methods: DMEK was performed for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, bullous keratopathy or previouscorneal transplant failure in 300 consecutive eyes The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) wasdocumented before, and after surgery at 1, 6, and 12 months, and annually thereafter.Results: 97.4% of eyes reached a BCVA of ≥20/40 (0.5) within the first months after surgery, which wassustained over 5 years. A BCVA of ≥20/25 (≥0.8) was reached by 77.6% at 6 months (n=228), and 87.5at 5 years (n=8). A BCVA of ≥20/20 (≥1.0) was obtained by 45.6% at 6 months and 62.5% at 5 years.Furthermore, a BCVA of even ≥20/17 (≥1.2) was obtained by 14.5% at 6 months and 12.5% at 5 years.Conclusions: DMEK provides a fast and often complete visual recovery. Furthermore these visualoutcomes appear to remain stable for at least 5 years after surgery. Thus, DMEK surgery seems tosurpass other EK techniques in visual rehabilitation and final visual outcome.44