Simultaneous Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty and posterior iris-claw-fixated intra ocular lens implantation (IOL) in management of aphakic bullous keratopathy

Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Aphakic, Aniridic, and Vitrectomized Eyes: A Review

PURPOSE

The aim of this review is to examine the techniques, complications, and outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in aphakic, aniridic, and vitrectomized eyes.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE database (via PubMed), using as keywords "(DMEK) AND (aphakia OR aniridia OR vitrectomy OR vitrectomized)." The research was limited to 10 years (January 2014-March 2024), in view of lack of literature before 2014. Articles, including case reports and case series, were included.

RESULTS

Twenty articles were included. No randomized controlled trials were found nor comparative studies with more than 1 technique used. Mean rebubbling rate in complex eyes was 29%, whereas mean endothelial cell loss at 6 months was 37%. The mean postoperative visual acuity improved from 1.47 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution to 0.7 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite being more challenging, compared with the techniques reported in literature, DMEK can be considered a valid option for the management of endothelial decompensation in complex eyes, with rebubbling rate and endothelial cell loss at 6 months, which are similar to non-complex eyes.

Temporary iris-lens diaphragm to assist descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty in aphakic patients

Purpose

Presenting a simple technique using an inversely implanted contact lens to create a temporary diaphragm to assist DMEK surgery in aphakic, partially aniridic and vitrectomized eyes.

Observations

The postoperative course was without pressure abnormalities and the anterior chamber remained deep. The cornea completely cleared within 3 weeks and remained clear after removal of the contact lens showing a corneal thickness of 544 μm and an intact endothelial cell pattern on endothelial cell microscopy after 3 months.

Conclusion and Importance

The inversely implanted contact lens provides an easily accessible temporary diaphragm, making DMEK surgery a safer procedure even in complex eyes without an adequate posterior barrier.

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty: Update on preoperative considerations, surgical techniques, and outcomes

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is the closest to the physiological replacement of endothelial cells. In the initial years, the technique was surgically challenging. Over the years, with better understanding and modifications in the surgical steps, the technique has evolved as an alternative to more popular procedure Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty. The article highlights the various preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative nuances of DMEK. Additionally, it summarizes the various comparative and noncomparative studies on DMEK outcomes.

Decompensated cornea with epithelial and stromal edema

A 66-year-old patient underwent surgery for congenital cataract in both eyes in her first year of life without implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL). In 1994, at the age of 39 years, both eyes received secondary Kelman multiflex-style angle-fixated anterior chamber IOLs (AC IOLs). The surgeries were followed by retinal detachments in both eyes, in the left eye in the same year and in the right eye 4 years later, which were successfully repaired. The patient presented with a decompensated cornea with epithelial and stromal edema in the left eye. The AC IOL axis was oriented from 5- to 8-o'clock position with the haptic contacting the cornea. The distal portion of the inferior-nasal haptic was deeply buried and entrapped in a broad iridocorneal synechia extending between 6- and 8-o'clock positions. The synechia also caused adjacent pupillary distortion and pigment leaf eversion (Figure 1JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202205000-00021/figure1/v/2022-04-22T173532Z/r/image-tiff). The AC IOL in the right eye was well positioned, and the cornea was clear with an endothelial cell count (ECC) of 2160 cells/mm2 and central corneal thickness (CCT) of 650 μm. No ECC was obtainable in the left eye, and CCT was 775 μm (Figure 2JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202205000-00021/figure2/v/2022-04-22T173532Z/r/image-tiff). Visual acuity was 0.8 corrected in the right eye and hand motion in the left eye. Both eyes were normotonic. On optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, a broad iridocorneal synechia was visible with a canal corresponding to the deeply buried haptic end of the AC IOL (Figure 3JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202205000-00021/figure3/v/2022-04-22T173532Z/r/image-tiff). Abundant condensed cortical material (Soemmerring's ring) was found behind the iris and above the ciliary body. What would be your surgical options to rehabilitate the patient's left eye considering corneal decompensation caused by haptic contact of an angle-fixated AC IOL and capture of 1 haptic within an iridocorneal synechia extending along 2 clock hours?

Intraocular lens implantation in the absence of capsular support: scleral-fixated vs retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lenses

Cataract surgery via phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) placement in the capsular bag is the gold standard in the presence of adequate capsular support. However, when capsule and/or zonular fibers are weak or absent, alternate fixation strategies are required. Common alternative options include retropupillary iris-claw IOLs (RP-IC IOLs) and scleral-fixated IOLs (SF IOLs). In the present review of 87 articles with 2174 eyes implanted with RP-IC IOLs and 2980 eyes with SF IOLs, we discuss the published literature with respect to safety and efficacy. Although the studies reporting outcomes of these IOLs have been performed in patients with different concomitant conditions, visual and refractive outcomes were found to be comparable between RP-IC IOLs and SF IOLs. RP-IC IOL implantation seemed to provide equivalent or a potentially lower rate of complications than SF IOL implantation. Data from the literature also suggest that the surgical technique of RP-IC IOL implantation is relatively simpler with correspondingly shorter surgical times.

Endothelial keratoplasty with anterior chamber intraocular lens versus secondary posterior chamber intraocular lens

AIM

To describe the long-term outcomes of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) with an anterior chamber intraocular lens (ACIOL) compared to secondary posterior chamber (PC) IOL.

METHODS

This was a retrospective comparative cohort study. The clinical data of 82 eyes from 82 consecutive patients with pseudophakic (PBK) or aphakic bullous keratopathy (ABK) who either underwent DSAEK with retained or secondary ACIOL (n=23) or DSAEK with IOL exchange and/or secondary PCIOL (retropupillary iris-claw IOL, n=25; intrascleral-fixated IOL, n=29; or sulcus IOL, n=5) were analysed. The main outcome measures were graft survival and complications up to 5 years.

RESULTS

The graft survival in the secondary PCIOL group was superior than the ACIOL group over 5 years (year 1, 100.0% vs 100.0%; year 3, 94.7% vs 75.0%; year 5, 91.1% vs 60.6%, p=0.022). The presence of an ACIOL was a significant risk factor associated with graft failure (HR, 4.801; 95% CI, 1.406 to 16.396, p=0.012) compared to a secondary PCIOL. There was no significant difference in the rate of graft detachment and elevated intraocular pressure between the groups. There were five cases (9.3%) of IOL subluxation or dislocation in the retropupillary iris-claw and intrascleral-fixated IOL groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Eyes that underwent DSAEK with ACIOL in situ had poorer long-term graft survival compared with those with secondary PCIOL. Intraocular lens exchange was not associated with a higher complication rate. In ABK or PBK eyes with ACIOL, we recommend performing IOL exchange and/or secondary PCIOL implantation combined with endothelial keratoplasty.

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty and intraocular lens implantation in cases of aphakic bullous keratopathy

Purpose: To present the results of a modified sutured transcleral or sutureless intrascleral three-piece foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in cases of aphakic bullous keratopathy (ABK) with inadequate capsular support.Methods: Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients with ABK and inadequate capsular support who underwent DMEK with three-piece foldable IOL implantation from September 2015 to June 2018 were analyzed, retrospectively. Two techniques were used in IOL implantation; sutureless intrascleral fixation of the IOL (ISF-IOL) and sutured transscleral-fixated IOL (TSF-IOL) implantation.Results: Rebubblings due to the graft detachment were needed in 9 (43%) of 21 eyes in the early postoperative period. At the last follow-up visit, 18 (85.7%) of DM grafts were attached. Any complication related to IOL implantation was not observed in the ISF-IOL cases. Exposure of the fixation suture in 1 (25%) of 4 TSF-IOL cases was seen, postoperatively. The increase in the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the last follow-up visit was statistically significant when compared to the mean preoperative BCVA (p < .001). The mean preoperative central corneal thickness was decreased from 883.3 ± 111.8 (700-1150) μm to 582.3 ± 118.2 (490-990) μm at the last follow-up visit (p < .001).Conclusion: DMEK combined with sutureless/sutured three-piece foldable IOL implantation appears to be a feasible method for the management in ABK without adequate capsular support. A faster visual recovery can be obtained with the techniques presented.

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty and refractive surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) has become a first-line treatment in corneal endothelial diseases because of its exceptional clinical outcomes and low complication rates. Because of its improved refractive predictability, DMEK is now also considered for managing cases with endothelial decompensation following previous refractive procedures, or in combination with those. This article reviews the clinical outcomes in these cases and discusses the possibility of refractive interventions following DMEK.

RECENT FINDINGS

DMEK has been successfully performed in eyes after laser in-situ keratomileusis, eyes after anterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and aphakic eyes. Often, DMEK is combined with cataract surgery (triple-DMEK). Initial reports on reducing the refractive cylinder by toric IOL implantation are available. Although there are some reports on phacoemulsification and IOL implantation after phakic DMEK, reports on laser refractive procedures following DMEK are lacking.

SUMMARY

In contrast to earlier keratoplasty techniques, DMEK induces on average only mild refractive shifts owing to the 'natural' restoration of the cornea. As such, DMEK may be ideal in managing corneal decompensation in refractive patients. However, further studies are required to assess the safety and efficacy of DMEK after refractive treatment and of refractive procedures following DMEK.