Long-term observation of graft thickness and shape in Descemet stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the thickness and shape of the posterior lamellar graft in Descemet stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty after long-term observation.

Methods: All patients who underwent Descemet stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty including simple and triple Descemet stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty between August 2009 and May 2014 were enrolled in this retrospective study. To assess postoperative thickness and shape of the Descemet stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty graft, images of the graft taken at the center (C), mid-periphery at 4 mm optical zone (P1), and periphery at 6 mm optical zone (P2) at 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively were obtained using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Results: C:P1 was 0.96, 0.96, and 0.95 at 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively, respectively. C:P2 was 0.85, 0.84, and 0.83 at 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively, respectively. There was a greater thinning of the central graft thickness compared with the peripheral graft thickness. The shapes of the posterior lamellar graft were variable, such as concave, asymmetrical, planar, irregular, and convex meniscus shapes. The most common shape was asymmetrical shape at 1 year postoperatively and concave at 2 and 3 years postoperatively. The most common shape of the posterior lamellar grafts was asymmetrical shape (38.18%) at 1 year postoperatively, followed by concave (34.54%), planar (20.00%), irregular (5.45%), and convex (1.81%) shapes. The most common shape was concave shape (44.44% and 57.14% for 2 and 3 years postoperatively, respectively), followed by asymmetrical (27.77% and 17.85%, respectively), planar (16.66% and 17.85%, respectively), and irregular (11.11% and 7.14%, respectively) shapes.

Conclusion: In our study, concave meniscus was not the only observed shape of the graft. The shape and thickness of the graft did not stabilize even 3 years postoperatively in some patients. These findings should be taken into consideration in a combination of Descemet stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty and cataract surgery.