Long-term results of Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for endothelial failure caused by phakic intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To describe the surgical approach and long-term outcomes of Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) for endothelial failure secondary to phakic intraocular lenses (pIOL).

METHODS

Retrospective, interventional case series of 18 eyes of 13 patients who developed endothelial failure secondary to pIOL implant. Patients were submitted to pIOL explant and DSAEK for visual rehabilitation, with or without phacoemulsification plus posterior-chamber intraocular lens implant. The minimum follow-up time was 3 years and the main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD) and percentage of endothelial cell loss (ECL), intraoperative and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Patients' mean age was 47.44 (7.86) years with a mean follow-up time of 55.61 (14.13) months. Sixteen eyes (88.9%) had an angle-supported pIOL. The mean pIOL implant-to explant time was 8.17 (2.73) years. BCVA improved from 1.00 (0.36) logMAR preoperatively to 0.29 (0.36) logMAR at 1 year of follow-up (p < 0.001), remaining stable over the entire follow-up period (p > 0.05). At the last visit, all corneas were clear, with a mean ECD of 724.74 (325.57) cells/mm2. During the follow-up, two eyes (11.1%) required a re-DSAEK due to early graft failure (<3 months).

CONCLUSION

Our outcomes reveal that an individualized and careful approach may result in a stable visual rehabilitation in young patients with corneal decompensation following pIOL implant.