Abstract
Purpose::
Pre-cut tissue is an appealing alternative to intra-operatively prepared endothelial grafts. However, its safety and effect on visual rehabilitation in patients has not been established. We examine the early post-operative vision, rate of dislocation, and rate of primary graft failure in our initial series of endothelial keratoplasty (EK) utilizing pre-cut tissue.
Methods::
Our first consecutive 20 EK cases with pre-cut tissue were matched with 20 control EK cases using intra-operatively prepared tissue during the same time period. Vision was compared at one to three months post-op. In addition, dislocation and primary graft failure rates were also compared between groups.
Results::
The average vision at one to three months post-op was 20/35 with correction and 20/37 without correction in pre-cut tissue. The average vision was 20/36 and 20/50 with and without correction in intra-operatively prepared tissue. The difference between pre-cut and intra-operatively prepared tissue was -0.11 logMAR without correction and -0.02 logMAR with correction, both not statistically significant (p=0.263 and 0.853). There was one dislocation in the pre-cut group (5%) and no dislocations in the control group. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.5). There were no primary graft failures.
Conclusions::
Initial studies with pre-cut tissue indicate no difference in vision with and without correction in the immediate post-operative period. In addition, there was no increased risk of dislocation or primary graft failure. Further larger studies will be needed to confirm safety and similarity of outcome to established techniques of EK.
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • transplantation