Outcome and Histopathology of Secondary Penetrating Keratoplasty Graft Failure Managed by Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty

Purpose: To describe the clinical outcome and histopathology of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) performed for secondary graft failure after penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Methods: A total of 11 eyes from 10 patients who underwent DMEK for secondary PK graft failure at a tertiary referral center were included in this retrospective study. Best-corrected visual acuity, endothelial cell density, and central pachymetry were evaluated before and at regular time intervals up to 36 months after DMEK and complications were recorded; 1 post mortem cornea was available for light microscopy. Results: At their last follow-up visit (on average, 16 months after DMEK), 7 of 11 transplanted corneas were clear. In the 7 eyes with clear grafts, 5 had a best-corrected visual acuity of ≥20/25 (≥0.8), central pachymetry averaged 535 (±70) μm, and endothelial cell density averaged 1045 (±500) cells/mm2. Of the 11 eyes, 4 required rebubbling in the early postoperative phase; 1 eye was left with a small (
Source: Cornea - Category: Opthalmology Tags: Clinical Science Source Type: research