CATARACT SURGERY IN PATIENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT CORNEAL OPACITIES, EPITHELIAL AND EPITHELIOSTROMAL CORNEAL DYSTROPHIES
Published 2026 - 30th ESCRS Winter Meeting
Reference: FP01.04 | Type: Free Paper | DOI: 10.82333/p3xp-f036
Authors: Alina Gheorghe* 1 , Ana- Maria Arghirescu 2 , Andrei Coleasa 2 , Ancuta Onofrei 3
1CLINICAL INSTITUTE OF OPHTHALMOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES “PROF. DR MIRCEA OLTEANU”,Bucharest,Romania;Ophthalmology,University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Dr.Carol Davila " ,Bucharest,Romania;Oftavision Eye Clinic,Bucharest,Romania, 2CLINICAL INSTITUTE OF OPHTHALMOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES “PROF. DR MIRCEA OLTEANU”,Bucharest,Romania;University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Dr.Carol Davila " ,Bucharest,Romania, 3Oftavision Eye Clinic,Bucharest,Romania;University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Dr.Carol Davila " ,Bucharest,Romania
Purpose
To present a series of cases illustrating our approach to overcoming both preoperative and intraoperative challenges in cataract surgery for patients with significant corneal opacities, or various degrees of epithelial or epitheliostromal dystrophies. We emphasize tailored preoperative assessments, individualized intraocular lens (IOL) selection guided by biometric and topographic analyses, and customized postoperative management to optimize refractive outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction.
Setting
CLINICAL INSTITUTE OF OPHTHALMOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES “PROF. DR MIRCEA OLTEANU”
Methods
All patients have undergone cataract surgery with IOL implantation with prior documentation of the extent of the corneal implication: slit-lamp exam, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, biometry. The degree and localisation of the corneal opacities have guided our unique surgical approach in each of the presented cases.
Results
We present the refractive outcomes in eyes who underwent phaco-DMEK surgery. The patients have been evaluated preoperatively, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post operatively. The degree of improvement in visual quality has been monitored using evaluation of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive analysis and tomographic maps.
Conclusion
For most patients, refractive stability was achieved after three months post-operatively. BCVA improved, however not all patients gained spectacle independence, but the decrease in HOA significantly improved their overall satisfaction, enabling them to return to an active lifestyle.