Corneal Densitometry After Uneventful Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty-5-Year Outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the course of corneal densitometry (CD), endothelial cell density (ECD), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central corneal thickness (CCT) 5 years after uneventful Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: Sixty uneventful cases (51 patients) with a minimum follow-up of 5 years were included. CD of various corneal layers (anterior, central, posterior, and total layer) and zones (0-2 mm, 2-6 mm, and 6-10 mm) were measured with Scheimpflug tomography. ECD, BCVA, and CCT were also evaluated.

Results: Total CD at 0 to 2 mm and 2 to 6 mm zones significantly decreased from 33 ± 10 and 27.8 ± 8 grayscale units (GSU) preoperatively to 21.8 ± 3.1 and 22.2 ± 4.2 GSU at 5 years, respectively ( P < 0.001). On the contrary, total CD at the 6 to 10 mm zone significantly increased from 30 ± 8.3 GSU preoperatively to 34.6 ± 7.8 GSU at 5 years ( P < 0.001). ECD significantly decreased from 2496 ± 267 cells/mm 2 preoperatively to 1063 ± 470 cells/mm 2 at 5 years ( P < 0.001). Similarly, CCT significantly decreased from 686 ± 109 μm preoperatively to 557 ± 37 μm at 5 years ( P < 0.001). Postoperative BCVA was significantly better after DMEK for every examination time point.

Conclusions: Despite a slight CD increase at all layers of all corneal zones from the second to the fifth postoperative year, the excellent visual outcome was maintained throughout 5-year follow-up. Thus, DMEK seems to effectively treat corneal endothelial disease in the long term.