Long-Term Graft Survival And Visual Outcomes Following Microthin Dsaek
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCOR313 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/3y4y-s389
Authors: Dr Yunfei Yang* 1 , Dr Michael Grentzelos 2 , Fengyi Liu 3 , A/Prof. Madhavan Rajan 4
1Ophthalmology,Mid South Essex NHS Foundation Trust,Westcliff-on-Sea,United Kingdom;Ophthalmology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,United Kingdom, 2Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,London,United Kingdom;Ophthalmology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,United Kingdom, 3University of Cambridge,Cambridge,United Kingdom;Ophthalmology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,United Kingdom, 4Ophthalmology,Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Cambridge,United Kingdom;Vision and Eye Research Institute,Anglia Ruskin University,Cambridge,United Kingdom
Purpose
To analyse the 10-year results of microthin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (MT-DSAEK) in patients with Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) and non-FECD bullous keratoplasty.
Setting
A single UK tertiary centre hospital (Addenbrooke's Hospital, UK).
Methods
This is a retrospective observational study of 93 eyes of 71 patients who had MT-DSAEK performed by a single surgeon between October 2009 to Jan 2015. The mean follow up duration was 10.4±1.85 years. Records were identified through the Epic electronic patient record system. The primary outcome was long term transplant survival time and secondary outcome was best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and late transplant failure rate.
Results
Cumulative first transplant survival was 87% at 10 years (95% CI 78-93%) and 82% at 12 years (95% CI 65-90%). Late failure of DSAEK transplant occured in 13% (12 eyes), with mean interval of 7±3.38 years. There were a higher percentage of ocular comorbidities, particularly glaucoma (8 eyes, 67%) in those with late transplant failure. After re-do surgery, 10/12 (83%) transplants recovered good visual function. The long-term visual outcomes (mean BCVA) in eyes without visual co-morbidities at the final follow up was 0.39±0.54 logMAR acuity with 81% achieving 0.2 or better and 93% with vision better or equal to 0.3 logMAR acuity.
Conclusions
MT-DSAEK surgery shows favourable long-term survival and good visual function maintained over ten years. Ocular comorbidities increase the risk of late transplant failure, but repeat MT-DSAEK demosntrated recovery of functional vision in most patients.