Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty: Safety and Outcomes: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology

doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.06.021

Ophthalmology

Volume 116, Issue 9, September 2009, Pages 1818-1830

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.06.021 Get rights and content

Objective

To review the published literature on safety and outcomes of Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) for the surgical treatment of endothelial diseases of the cornea.

Design

Peer-reviewed literature searches were conducted in PubMed and the Cochrane Library with the most recent search in February 2009. The searches yielded 2118 citations in English-language journals. The abstracts of these articles were reviewed and 131 articles were selected for possible clinical relevance, of which 34 were determined to be relevant to the assessment objectives.

Results

The most common complications from DSEK among reviewed reports included posterior graft dislocations (mean, 14%; range, 0%–82%), followed by endothelial graft rejection (mean, 10%; range, 0%–45%), primary graft failure (mean, 5%; range, 0%–29%), and iatrogenic glaucoma (mean, 3%; range, 0%–15%). Average endothelial cell loss as measured by specular microscopy ranged from 25% to 54%, with an average cell loss of 37% at 6 months, and from 24% to 61%, with an average cell loss of 42% at 12 months. The average best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (mean, 9 months; range, 3–21 months) ranged from 20/34 to 20/66. A review of postoperative refractive results found induced hyperopia ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 diopters (D; mean, 1.1 D), with minimal induced astigmatism ranging from −0.4 to 0.6 D and a mean refractive shift of 0.11 D. A review of graft survival found that clear grafts at 1 year ranged from 55% to 100% (mean, 94%).

Conclusions

The evidence reviewed is supportive of DSEK being a safe and effective treatment for endothelial diseases of the cornea. In terms of surgical risks, complication rates, graft survival (clarity), visual acuity, and endothelial cell loss, DSEK appears similar to penetrating keratoplasty (PK). It seems to be superior to PK in terms of earlier visual recovery, refractive stability, postoperative refractive outcomes, wound and suture-related complications, and intraoperative and late suprachoroidal hemorrhage risk. The most common complications of DSEK do not appear to be detrimental to the ultimate vision recovery in most cases. Long-term endothelial cell survival and the risk of late endothelial rejection are beyond the scope of this assessment.

Financial Disclosure(s)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

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: Manuscript no. 2009-579.

: Prepared by the Ophthalmic Technology Assessment Committee Cornea and Anterior Segment Disorders Panel and approved by the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Board of Trustees February 21, 2009.

: Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have made the following disclosure(s):

: W. Barry Lee - Consultant - Allergan, Inc.; Lecture Fees - Allergan, Inc., Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Inspire

: Deborah S. Jacobs - Employee - The Boston Foundation for Sight 501(c)3

: David C. Musch - Consultant - Glaukos Corporation, MacuSight, Inc., NeoVista, Inc., Neurotech USA, Inc., Oraya Therapeutics, Inc.; Grant Support - Midwest EyeBanks, National Eye Institute, Washington University; Pfizer, Recipient of Research to Prevent Blindness Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award.

: Stephen C. Kaufman - Lecture Fees - Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Allergan, Inc.

: Funded without commercial support by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

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