Long-Term Outcomes of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Postvitrectomized Eyes with the Use of Pars Plana Infusion

Purpose:To evaluate the use of pars plana infusion as part of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in eyes of patients who underwent vitrectomy.Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients at Toronto Western Hospital (Toronto, Canada) who had undergone DMEK with pars plana infusion, with a minimum follow-up of at least 12 months. Collected data included postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications such as graft detachment, rejection and failure, and rate of endothelial cell loss.Results:Fifteen eyes of 14 patients were included in this study. The mean follow-up time was 23.9 ± 5.7 months. Four grafts required rebubbling within the first month of surgery, and one graft required repeat DMEK right away. Two grafts failed secondarily at 24 months, and there was one episode of graft rejection. Five eyes had retinal complications including retinal detachment, retinoschisis, and cystoid macular edema. BCVA improved significantly from 1.7 ± 0.77 logarthim of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) (mean Snellen 20/1000) preoperatively when compared with postoperative BCVA at 6 months (0.95 ± 0.74 LogMar, mean Snellen 20/180, P = 0.02, n = 10), 12 months (0.93 ± 0.6,P = 0.01, mean Snellen 20/170, n = 11), and 24 months (1.01 ± 0.68, mean Snellen 20/200 P = 0.046, n = 7).Conclusions:Although pars plana infusion is a helpful technique for DMEK in vitrectomized eyes, such cases are still quite difficult to perform compared with standard DMEK and use of an infusion may increase the risk of retinal complications. Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty may be the preferred technique in these challenging vitrectomized eyes.