Microthin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty Versus Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Purpose: To compare visual outcomes, complications, and vision-related quality of life (QoL) after microthin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (MT-DSAEK) versus Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for the management of corneal endothelial dysfunction in Fuchs dystrophy. Methods: This is a prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients with visually significant endothelial decompensation from Fuchs dystrophy were prospectively randomized to receive MT-DSAEK or DMEK surgery. The primary outcome was best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included refraction, keratometry, endothelial cell count, complications, and vision-related QoL at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Results: A total of 56 eyes of 56 patients were enrolled, 28 in each group. Postoperatively, LogMAR mean BSCVA in the MT-DSAEK group was 0.17 +/- 0.08 and 0.11 +/- 0.09 at 6 and 12 months compared with 0.09 +/- 0.13 and 0.04 +/- 0.13 after DMEK (P = 0.03, P = 0.002 respectively) with the DMEK cohort achieving 3.5 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution letters better BSCVA at 1 year compared with MT-DSAEK. Complication rates were similar with 3.5% rebubbling rate in both groups, 1 primary graft failure in DMEK and a single endothelial rejection in the MT-DSAEK arm. Vision-related QoL was comparable at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and no eyes demonstrated loss of vision from preoperative BSCVA. Conclusions: DMEK surgery resulted in significantly better BSCVA at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively compared with MT-DSAEK. Patient satisfaction was similar with no differences reported in vision-related QoL scores, as was the complications profile between groups. Thus, our results favor DMEK as the better choice procedure for eyes with Fuchs-related corneal decompensation without ocular comorbidities.

Automated summary

The study compared the outcomes of MT-DSAEK and DMEK surgeries for Fuchs dystrophy. Results showed that DMEK surgery led to significantly better BSCVA at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, with similar complication rates and vision-related QoL scores between the two groups.