Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access

Ultra-thin descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) – Why I prefer this technique

5^th International Conference on Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology

August 04-06, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Iva Dekaris

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Ophthalmol

Abstract :

Introduction: DSAEK and DMEK are the most popular endothelial keratoplasty techniques. The advantages of DMEK are well
known such as the fastest and best visual improvement, near normal anatomical recovery and very low immune rejection rate.
Despite that, DSAEK is by far the most often performed technique; mostly because of its better feasibility, lower rebubling rate
and since it is less time-consuming. UT-DSAEK, with lamellas thinner than 100 μm, it is the technique that could overcome the
disadvantages of both methods.
Purpose: Evaluation of visual outcomes after ultra-thin DSAEK (lamellas <100 μm) and comparison to conventional DSAEK
(lamellas of 100-200 μm) in eyes with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK).
Patients & Methods: A prospective case series of 10 PBK eyes undergoing UT-DSAEK (group 1) and 30 PBK eyes undergo
conventional DSAEK (group 2) for the treatment of PBK. UT-DSAEK grafts were obtained with a double-pass technique. All patients
underwent serial central grafts thickness measurement with non-contact optical coherence tomography (Zeiss VisanteTM AS-OCT)
at various time points after surgery. Differences between the groups regarding best corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and endothelial
cells density loss (ECD) were recorded. Postoperative follow-up was up to 2 years.
Results: UT-DSAEK group showed significantly better postoperative BCVA both in quantity (≥0.1 log MAR) and speed of recovery
as compared to conventional DSAEK group (P<0.05). Endothelial cell loss in UT-DSAEK was 41.72% after 12 months and was not
significantly different to DSAEK group.
Conclusion: UT-DSAEK provides faster and more complete visual rehabilitation as compared to conventional DSAEK.

Biography :

Iva Dekaris has completed her PhD from University in Zagreb after Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Schepens Eye Research Institute. She is currently
a Medical Director at Eye Hospital “Svjetlost”, Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Zagreb and Rijeka and Associate-Member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences
and Arts. She has published 47 papers in CC Journals; works as PI for project “Mechanisms of corneal graft rejection” and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member
of 3 and a Reviewer for 6 reputed journals. She has an overall experience of over 20,000 surgeries mainly cataract surgery, corneal transplantations and refractive lens
exchange.