Abstract
Purpose::
There is debate among transplant surgeons on the risks of doing DSAEK surgery combined with cataract surgery with a fear of increasing the dislocation rate when viscoelastic is used during phaco or damaging the donor endothelium from a newly placed, possibly unstable IOL. We compared results of DSAEK without phaco and DSAEK with phaco to determine relative risks with each procedure.
Methods::
In our first consecutive 142 DSAEK cases, 96 eyes received DSAEK alone (Group 1) and 46 eyes received DSAEK with phaco (Group 2). The dislocation rate and 6 month endothelial cell density (ECD) were compared between groups.
Results::
There was one dislocation in each group. At 6 months, Group 1 had a mean ECD cell loss of 33%+/-14% and Group 2 of 37% +/- 15%, with no significant difference between the two groups. (p=.36).
Conclusions::
Combining cataract surgery with DSAEK in the new "triple procedure" does not increase the risk of dislocation, nor does it increase measured endothelial cell loss at 6 months compared to DSAEK surgery alone.
Keywords: cornea: endothelium • cataract