Correlation between recipient age and visual acuity after Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: To analyze the correlation between the recipient’s age and best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) after Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Materials and Methods: Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Institutional, tertiary care eye hospital. Study Population: All patients who underwent DMEK or DMEK combined with phacoemulsification (DMEK triple) for Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy, using a standardized protocol between August 2016 and July 2021, were included. Previous glaucoma surgery, aphakia, or complicated pseudophakia were excluded. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes: Recipient’s age versus BCDVA. Secondary outcomes: Age versus uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA), graft detachment (GD) versus rebubbling rates, and versus percentage endothelial cell loss (ECL) at 6 months. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: 104 eyes of 72 patients were included. The average age in this study was 71.13 ± 10.41 years (44–88 years). There was a significant and positive correlation between age versus BCDVA and UCDVA. However, there was no correlation between age and GD, rebubbling, and percentage of ECL at 6 months. Conclusions: Uncorrected and best-corrected distance visual acuities are better at younger ages after DMEK in Fuchs endothelial keratoplasty. Age was positively correlated with the best-corrected distance visual acuity after DMEK for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy when performed with the same technique.