Trends in Corneal Transplantation from 2001 to 2016 in Germany: A Report of the DOG-Section Cornea and its Keratoplasty Registry.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective panel study was to provide an overview of absolute numbers and of trends in the types of and indications for corneal transplantation in Germany from 2001 to 2016.

METHODS

A questionnaire about absolute numbers, types of transplantation, and indications was sent to 111 ophthalmologic departments in Germany, out of which 94 (85%) provided their data.

RESULTS

Since the year 2001, the number of corneal transplantations has increased by 1.5-fold, from 4730 penetrating keratoplasties (PKPs) in 2001 to 7325 penetrating and lamellar keratoplasties in 2016. The shift from penetrating to lamellar procedures began in 2006. In 2014, lamellar procedures (231 [4%] anterior and 2883 [49%] posterior lamellar keratoplasties) surpassed PKPs (2721, 47%) for the first time. Main indications for keratoplasty in Germany (2016) are Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (46%), pseudophakic corneal decompensation (bullous keratopathy, 13%), repeated keratoplasty after graft failure (11%), keratoconus (8%), and corneal scarring (6%; others: 16%). The number of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasties (DMEKs) was 12 times higher (3850, 53%) than Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasties (DSAEKs, 319, 4.4%) in 2016. The proportion of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasties (DALKs) never exceeded 6% (269 in 2011).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of keratoplasties in Germany has increased from 2001 to 2016. Since 2014, posterior lamellar keratoplasties have surpassed PKPs. There was a constant increase of DMEKs, with a 12-fold higher number compared to DSAEKs in 2016. The shorter recovery time after DMEK seems to contribute to the trend toward earlier operative intervention in corneal endothelial diseases.