Microscope Integrated Optical Coherence Tomography Guided Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty in Congenital Hereditary Endothelial Dystrophy

Purpose: To describe the outcomes of descemet stripping automated endothelial kerato-plasty (DSAEK) in congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED) and to evaluate the role of microscope integrated optical coherence tomography (Mi-OCT) during the surgery. Design: Retrospective data analysis. Methods: A retrospective study from the medical records of all those patients who were diagnosed with CHED and underwent DSAEK at our centre from 2015 were evaluated. All patients underwent Mi-OCT-guided standard DSAEK procedure. Intra-operative difficulties, visual outcomes and graft survival were recorded. Results: A total of 48 eyes of 29 patients with a mean age of 9.87 +/- 8.2 years and mean follow-up of 17.3 months were evaluated. Thirty-nine eyes underwent primary DSAEK and 9 eyes underwent PKP. Three eyes who underwent PKP had failed graft for which they underwent DSAEK. The mean preoperative Snellen's visual acuity was 1.71 +/- 0.66 and the mean preoperative central corneal thickness was 1.10 +/- 0.174 mm. Intraoperatively, all the grafts were attached which was confirmed using Mi-OCT. Graft detachment was seen in the immediate postoperative period in 10.4% (4 eyes) of primary DSAEK, out of which DM scoring was not performed in 2 eyes. Following DSAEK, cornea cleared at four-week follow-up in 89.7% eyes and in all the eyes the cornea cleared at six-week follow-up. Conclusion: Primary DSAEK could be a preferred option over PKP for CHED with early presentation and in those eyes with failed primary PKP. Mi-OCT is a very useful tool in these eyes for various intraoperative procedures, thereby improving the outcomes of the procedure.

Automated summary

The study retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of DSAEK for CHED, indicating that primary DSAEK may be a preferred option over PKP, and Mi-OCT plays a significant role in intraoperative procedures, improving the overall outcomes of the surgery.