Long-term outcomes of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy after argon laser iridotomy.

PURPOSE: To report the long-term outcomes of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) for bullous keratopathy secondary to argon laser iridotomy (BK-ALI).

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

Forty-five eyes from 41 consecutive patients with BK-ALI who underwent DSAEK from July 2007 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), and any complications were investigated over a 10-year postoperative period.

RESULTS

The mean BCVA improved from 0.80 logMAR before DSAEK to 0.28 logMAR at 6 months after DSAEK; the mean values showed an additional slight improvement between 6 months and 10 years after the surgery (P < .01). The mean ECD decreased from 2864 cells/mm2 at baseline to 2269 cells/mm2 (20.8% loss) at 6 months post-DSAEK, and this decreasing trend continued throughout the 10 years after DSAEK (P < .01). The mean ECD was 1148 cells/mm2 (59.9% loss) after 5 years, and 568 cells/mm2 (80.2% loss) after 10 years. No graft deaths were observed throughout the 10-year period (5-year follow-up rate 60.0%, 10-year follow-up rate 20.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

The 10-year outcomes of DSAEK for BK-ALI were excellent with a high graft survival rate.