Outcomes Of A Novel Artificial Endothelial Implant (Endoart) For Treating Chronic Corneal Edema
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PP11.07 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/k4py-3k03
Authors: Carlos Lisa* 1 , LUIS FERNANDEZ-VEGA CUETO 1 , CRISTINA GOMEZ SANCHEZ 2 , BELEN ALFONSO-BARTOLOZZI 1 , JOSE F. ALFONSO 1
1CORNEA AND LENS SURGERY,INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO FERNANDEZ-VEGA,OVIEDO,Spain, 2HOSPITAL GENERAL UNIVERSITARIO DE ALBACETE,ALBACETE,Spain
Purpose
To report the outcomes of a novel artificial endothelial implant (EndoArt) for treating chronic corneal edema after bullous keratopathy (BK) secondary to glaucoma surgery or failed repeat keratoplasties (endothelial or penetrating).
Setting
Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega (Oviedo), España
Methods
Patients with poor prognosis for graft survival and chronic corneal edema underwent removal of the Descemet membrane or previous endothelial graft and implantation of an artificial endothelial replacement membrane (EndoArt, EyeYon Medical, Israel). The implant was secured to the posterior corneal surface using an air–gas bubble and a nylon suture. Main outcome measures included central corneal thickness, corrected distance visual acuity, device related complications and ocular discomfort.
Results
8 eyes of 8 patients underwent EndoArt implantation. Three months after surgery, the synthetic endothelial replacement membrane was well-centered and adherent to the posterior corneal surface, with improvement in central corneal transparency in 7 patients. In one unicameral eye surgery was converted to DSAEK due to several implant dislocations. Central corneal thickness significantly decreased from a mean of 804.4± 121 µ preoperatively to 543.4±53 µ postoperatively. Marginal improvement in visual acuity was obtained due to severe ocular comorbidities and chronic stromal fibrosis. No severe device-related complications developed after surgery, although 3 patients required 1 air–gas bubble injection to achieve complete implant adhesion.
Conclusions
EndoArt implantation improves central thickness and corneal transparency in patients with bullous keratopathy and poor prognosis for a endothelial or penetrating keratoplasty. No significant implant-related adverse events occurred after surgery.