Use of viscoelastic substance for preventing Descemet's membrane rupture in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of using a viscoelastic substance in Descemet's membrane rupture in "double bubble" deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

Methods: The medical records and videos of surgeries of 40 patients who underwent surgery between January 2014 and July 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: 20 patients whose perforation of the posterior stromal wall was performed without administration of any viscoelastic substance (group 1) and 20 patients whose perforation of the posterior stromal wall was performed with administration of viscoelastic substance onto the posterior stroma (group 2). The Descemet's membrane perforation rate was compared between groups.

Results: Perforation of the Descemet's membrane was observed in 12 (60.0%) patients in group 1 and only three (15.0%) patients in group 2. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.003). Only one (5%) patient in group 2 had macroperforation during the procedure, and the surgery was converted to penetrating keratoplasty. Eleven (55.0%) patients in group 1 had macroperforation of Descemet's membrane, and surgeries were converted to penetrating keratoplasty. This difference between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.001).

Conclusions: Administering a viscoelastic substance onto the posterior stromal side just before puncture is an effective method to decrease the risk of Descemet's membrane perforation in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.