ESCRS - POCOR299 - 6 Years Of Experience With Descemet’S Membrane Endothelial Kerotplasty (Dmek) In A Third Level Hospital: An Epidemiological Perspective

6 Years Of Experience With Descemet’S Membrane Endothelial Kerotplasty (Dmek) In A Third Level Hospital: An Epidemiological Perspective

Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: POCOR299 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/6wft-8w32

Authors: Ms Aina Quin* 1 , Mr Rachid Bouchikh 2 , Ms Consuelo Arnaldos 1 , Dr Marc Carbonell 1 , Mr Kolbe Roche 1 , Dr Sebastian Videla 3 , Dr Alexandra Arango 1 , Dr Sabala Antonio 1

1Ophthalmology,Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol,Badalona,Spain, 2Ophthalmology,Hospital Municipal de Badalona,Badalona,Spain, 3Clinical Research Support Area, Clinical Pharmacology Department,Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol,Badalona,Spain

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to determine the epidemiological characteristics related to patients operated on for DMEK in a third level hospital.

Specific objectives:

  • To identify the main characteristics of patients who underwent DMEK, including age, sex, and operated eye.
  • To determine the primary indications for DMEK in our hospital setting.
  • To describe the main features and complications associated with DMEK.

Setting

A retrospective case series study is presented in which the medical records of patients operated on for DMEK between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2026 at the Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol de Badalona were analyzed. Preliminary data from approximately 110 cases have been included.

Methods

The study variables include demographic and clinical data of the operated patients, including age, gender, diagnosis for which DMEK was indicated, specifications of the surgical technique, cases that required a cornea transplant as a rescue technique, patients that required a corneal transplantation of the contralateral eye and cases that required rebubbling.

Results

Preliminary results suggest the following trends:

The mean age at the time of DMEK was approximately 70.3 ± 9.8 years, with most patients older than 65 years.
About 37% were men and 63% women.
The right eye was operated in approximately 56% of cases and the left in 44%.

The main indication for surgery was Fuchs’ dystrophy, followed by corneal decompensation after phacoemulsification. Less frequent indications included previous graft failure, bullous keratopathy, and other causes.

Most procedures were performed as isolated DMEK, while a smaller proportion were combined with phacoemulsification.
A minority of patients underwent contralateral transplantation, required rescue keratoplasty, or needed rebubbling.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing DMEK in our setting were predominantly older women with Fuchs’ dystrophy. Reoperation rates due to graft failure or need for rebubbling were low, highlighting the importance of appropiate postoperative follow-up.

We consider these findings relevant for understanding the profile of patients undergoing DMEK, and we conclude that close follow-up of these patients is essential.