Descemetorhexis Using Air Vs Viscoelastic In Dmek Surgery: Retrospective Study Of 34 Patients.
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PP11.01 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/40ej-ty32
Authors: Francisco Pérez Bartolomé* 1 , Alejandro Portero Benito 2 , Jose María Ruiz Moreno 3
1Ophthalmology,Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela,Madrid,Spain;Ophthalmology,Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro,Majadahonda, Madrid,Spain, 2Ophthalmology,Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela,Madrid,Spain, 3Ophthalmology,Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro,Majadahonda, Madrid,Spain
Purpose
To determine the effectiveness and safety of air-assisted (AA) vs viscoelastic- assited (VA) descemetorhexis in patients undergoing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).
Setting
Retrospective study
Methods
The medical records of 34 patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy or pseudophakic bullous keratopathy who underwent DMEK surgery in two tertiary centers were reviewed, from October 2022 to November 2023: 18 were operated with AA descemetorhexis and 16 with VA descemetorhexis (of which, 2 were phaco- DMEK). The groups were compared in terms of final visual acuity (VA), central corneal thickness (CE), endothelial cell loss (ECL) and rebubbling rate (RB). All patients were operated by the same surgeon (FPB).
Results
The minimum follow-up period was 6 months [VA: 7 months (IR: 6-8.7 months) vs AA: 8 months (IR: 7- 9.2 months); p= 0.3]. Both groups did not differ in age (VA: 70 +/- 12 years vs AA: 67 +/- 7 years old; p= 0.7), sex (p= 0.09) and other baseline characteristics (VA, ECL of the donor tissue). No statistically significant differences were found in final VA (VA: logMAR 0.1 +/- 0.2 vs AA: 0.2 +/- 0.2, p= 0.9); ECL (VA: 47% vs AA: 52%) or final CCT (VA: 545 +/- 30 µm vs AA: 490 +/- 47 µm; p= 0.09). VA descemetorhexis group presented a lower RB than AA descemetorhexis group, although not statistically significant (26% vs 32%, p= 0.4).
Conclusions
Both AA and VA descemetorhexis were safe and effective, with a lower tendency to detachment in the VA descemetorhexis group.