Abstract
Purpose :
Results in corneal transplantation vary depending on the type of transplantation performed and the type of disease. Our purpose was to analyze the results in terms of transparency and Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) in corneal transplants performed in the ophthalmology unit in the Clinic Hospital of Valladolid (Spain) throughout 2019, comparing them with the literature (in particular the latest European reports on corneal transplantation).
Methods :
A cross-sectional, observational, retrospective and single-center descriptive study was conducted based on the review of clinical histories of all corneal transplant patients during 2019, their characteristics before and after surgery, and the characteristics of the graft per year, as well as the results in BCVA per year. A descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed.
Results :
A total of 100 surgeries were analyzed in 92 eyes from 91 patients. The majority of the surgeries were performed in female sex (60.4%), with an average recipient age of 65.6 ±17 years. The most frequent transplant was DMEK (50.5%), followed by Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK) (22.2%), DSAEK (15.2%) and DALK (10.1%). 3 out of 4 were first transplants, with greater frequency of DMEK. The most frequent type of regrafting was PK. The mean endothelial count of donor corneas was 2601.07 ± 355 cells/mm2. The most frequent indication was Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy (40.7%), followed by regrafting and Bullous Keratopathy. The highest failure rate was obtained in the DSAEK group (32%), and the lowest one in DALK (11%). Overall, there was an average of 1.9±3.9 lines of VA improvement. Worse results in BCVA were obtained when a higher number of transplants performed in the same eye (Chi2, p<0.05). Among those who received cataract surgery, no significant differences in graft transparency were found after one year compared with those who did not.
Conclusions :
Results obtained in the series of patients who underwent corneal transplantation are very similar to those in the latest European, American and Australian reports. Results vary depending on the type of diagnosis, the number of regrafting, and the technique used. Given its excellent results, DMEK appears to be the probable standard technique for endothelial dystrophies, although DALK and PK hold their own in specific indications with more complex pathology. Combination with cataract surgery has shown good results.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.