Abstract
Purpose :
Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) in vivo wound healing process has not been fully described. To evaluate corneal wound healing findings after DSEAK by confocal microscopy.
Methods :
A total of 8 eyes (8 patients) were included. In vivo confocal microscopy (Confoscan 4, Fortune Technologies, Italy) was performed from 4 to 6 weeks after DSAEK. Measurements were done from the corneal endothelium to the corneal surface with Navis® software (NIDEK, Multi-Instrument Diagnostic System, Japan).
Results :
Donor-receptor interface was found in an average of 114 μm. Corneal stromal folds were observed from 111.1 ± 3.5 μm from the endothelium to 286 ± 94 μm (mean 175 ± 90.5 μm). Keratocytes were activated in the donor tissue from 12 ± 1.4 μm from the endothelium to 105 ± 38.2 μm to the donor-receptor interface (mean 93 ± 36.9 μm).
Conclusions :
Donor keratocytes are activated up to 6 weeks after DSAEK. Several corneal folds are present in proximity to the donor-receptor interface after DSAEK. Further evaluation of these findings is justified to determine its clinical significance.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.