ESCRS - POCOR300 - Functional Results After Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (Dmek) In A Real-World Practice: Six Years Of Experience

Functional Results After Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (Dmek) In A Real-World Practice: Six Years Of Experience

Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: POCOR300 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/cbwm-kf61

Authors: Mr 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

To evaluate the functional outcomes of DMEK surgery at our center.

Specifications:

  • Identify main indications for DMEK.
  • Evaluate the effects on endothelial cell density, corneal thickness and refractive outcomes.
  • Evaluate prophylactic iridotomy’s role in preventing pupillary block and its impact on IOP.
  • Record intra and postoperative complications, rebubbling and reintervention rates.
  • Compare functional outcomes between single DMEK and combined “triple procedures” (phacoemulsification + intraocular lens implantation + DMEK) performed simultaneously.
  • Compare functional results in patients with and without ocular comorbidities in the operated eye

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 analysed. Preliminary data from approximately 110 cases have been analyzed at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months postoperatively.

Methods

Epidemiological, clinical, surgical, and donor-related variables of the operated patients were analyzed, including age, gender, indication for DMEK, ocular comorbidities, operated eye, visual acuity (VA) by ETDRS charts, sphere, cylinder and axis, pachymetry, endothelial cell count, intraocular pressure (IOP), association with cataract surgery, complications and their management, as well as donor age and graft cell count.

Results

Preliminary results suggest the following trends:

Mean age was approximately 70.0 ± 9.9 years, with the majority of patients older than 65 years.  37% were men and 63% were women. The main indications for surgery were Fuchs’ dystrophy, corneal decompensation after phacoemulsification, and other causes.

Functional outcomes across follow-up visits showed progressive improvement in visual acuity and pachymetry, with stable intraocular pressure values.
Endothelial cell count showed recovery after the early postoperative period.

Conclusions

DMEK appears to be associated with improvements in visual acuity, refractive outcomes, pachymetry, and endothelial cell density in our cohort.