Air-assisted Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty with posterior chamber iris-fixation of aphakic iris-claw intraocular lens

Off-Centered DMEK Grafts: Impact and Resolution

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of off-centered Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) grafts compared to descemetorhexis.

METHODS

This is a retrospective case series of DMEK procedures conducted between June 2022 and July 2023 with postoperative graft decentration, characterized by a gap between the graft and descemetorhexis edge.

RESULTS

Eight eyes of 8 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average gap between the descemetorhexis edge and DMEK graft was 911.2 μm (range 306-1468). The resulting focal peripheral edema overlying the gap resolved in all cases, with a median time of 3 months. Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.49 (±0.26) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution to 0.01 (±0.02) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution at 12 months (P = 0.003). Central corneal thickness decreased from 646.5 (±177.8) μm to 473.7 (±29.6) μm at 12 months (P = 0.05). One eye, in the overlapped area of host-donor Descemet membranes, had small peripheral partial graft detachment less than one-third of graft surface area. No eyes required graft rebubbling. A larger descemetorhexis to DMEK gap showed a trend toward longer resolution times (P = 0.06). Focal edema in the inferonasal periphery took longer to recover compared with the nasal position (P = 0.01). Larger descemetorhexis to DMEK gaps did not significantly influence the longitudinal visual acuity trend (P = 0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Decentered DMEK, characterized by a gap between the graft and descemetorhexis edge, leads to focal stromal edema that diminishes over time, with no impact on final visual acuity.

Incidence of Glaucoma after Combined Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty and Retropupillary Fixated Iris-Claw Lens

Purpose

To assess the incidence of glaucoma after combined Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) and retropupillary fixated iris-claw intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in the patients with bullous keratopathy (BK) who required secondary IOL or IOL exchange.

Methods

In this retrospective case series, medical records of 22 patients who underwent combined DSEK and retropupillary fixated iris-claw IOL implantation were evaluated. Preoperative vision, intraocular pressure (IOP), postoperative IOP at different time periods, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed.

Results

A total of 22 eyes of 22 patients (7 females and 15 males) were analyzed. The median age was 62 years, and the median duration of the postoperative follow-up was 106.5 days. The corrected distance visual acuity improved from a median of 1.85 logMAR to 1.68 logMAR. None of the patients had intraoperative complications. Three patients (13.6%) had dislocation of the donor tissue on the 1^st postoperative day and were successfully rebubbled. Six eyes (27.3%) had graft failure and required penetrating keratoplasty. Eleven eyes (50%) had a sustained rise in the IOP, of which 2 (9.09%) had ocular hypertension and 9 eyes (40.9%) progressed to glaucoma.

Conclusions

DSEK combined with retropupillary fixated iris-claw lens is a good surgical option for the management of aphakic/pseudophakic BK in patients who require secondary IOL or IOL exchange. Regular IOP monitoring after the surgery is an essential, as there is a risk of IOP rise and glaucoma in the postoperative period. Clinicians should be vigilant and control the IOP to prevent glaucoma progression.

Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty in Microcornea for Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy With Anterior Chamber Intraocular Lens

To report a case of bilateral pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) in a patient having bilateral microcornea with pre-existing anterior chamber intraocular lens (ACIOL) who underwent Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) with a successful postoperative visual outcome. A 36-year-old female, diagnosed with microcornea and congenital cataract in both eyes underwent lens aspiration sequentially followed by ACIOL implantation in both eyes. The patient reported to our centre and was diagnosed with bilateral PBK with ACIOL with microcornea. She also had associated secondary glaucoma, postoperative chronic uveitis, and hyphaema, which were controlled with medical management first and taken into consideration while planning DSEK. The patient underwent manual DSEK without intraocular lens exchange under local anaesthesia in both eyes sequentially with a good visual recovery postoperatively in both eyes. Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK)/DSEK seems a viable option in patients with microcornea who develop PBK following cataract surgery with retained ACIOL where there is absence of capsular support as well as deficiency of iris tissue.

Combined DSAEK and intraocular lens flipping with retropupillary fixation in a patient with anterior chamber iris-claw intraocular lens and corneal edema

An 84-year-old monocular woman was referred to our institution for the management of corneal decompensation in her only eye, the right eye. The patient had secondary implantation of an anterior chamber iris-claw intraocular lens (IOL) for IOL dislocation in the setting of pseudoexfoliation syndrome 2 years before presentation. Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) combined with retropupillary repositioning of the iris-claw IOL using a flipping technique was performed for the treatment of corneal edema. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. Six months postoperatively, the corneal graft was attached and clear and the retropupillary iris-claw IOL was well positioned. The uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity improved from counting fingers preoperatively to 20/200 and 20/63, respectively, after surgery. Combined DSAEK and retropupillary refixation of a prepupillary iris-claw IOL using the flipping technique was a safe technique in this patient with corneal decompensation.

Combined Pupilloplasty and Retropupillary Iris-Claw Intraocular Lens Implantation with DSAEK in a Patient with Traumatic Iridoplegia, Aphakia and Corneal Decompensation

Purpose

To report the management of a patient with traumatic mydriasis, aphakia and corneal decompensation with a triple procedure: simultaneous pupilloplasty and retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lens (IOL) implantation combined with Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK).

Results

An 88-year-old woman was referred to our Institute for consultation on her left eye. The patient had undergone surgical removal of the IOL, without re-implantation, in her left eye 10 months prior to presentation due to traumatic IOL dislocation. At the time of examination, corrected distance visual acuity was counting fingers and intraocular pressure was 10 mmHg. Slit-lamp examination revealed iridoplegia, aphakia and corneal edema. The patient underwent simultaneous pupilloplasty and retropupillary iris-claw IOL implantation combined with DSAEK. Six months postoperatively, the corneal graft was attached and clear, the iris was well reconstructed and almost round, and the iris-claw IOL was in place.

Conclusions

Simultaneous pupilloplasty and retropupillary iris-claw IOL implantation combined with DSAEK was shown to be a safe surgical technique in a patient with traumatic mydriasis, aphakia and corneal decompensation.

Double-infusion cannula technique for glued fixation of intraocular lens with endothelial keratoplasty

OBJECTIVE

To describe double-infusion cannula technique (DICT) that involves the placement of 2 infusion cannulas in a combined surgical approach of glued intrascleral haptic fixation of intraocular lens (glued IOL) with endothelial keratoplasty (EK) in patients with aphakic bullous keratopathy.

DESIGN

Prospective, single-centre, interventional study.

PARTICIPANTS

Five eyes of 5 patients.

METHODS

The first cannula placed for fluid infusion at pars plana stabilises the globe and facilitates vitrectomy with the glued IOL procedure. Secondary IOL fixation compartmentalises the eye into anterior and posterior chamber and a continuous posterior fluid infusion prevents globe collapse in an already vitrectomized eye. The second cannula is placed at the level of limbus for pressurised air infusion that facilitates an EK procedure. When the donor graft is being unfolded, air infusion is stopped and fluid from the posterior infusion pushes up the iris IOL diaphragm and facilitates graft unfolding.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 14 ± 5 months (range 9-21 months). The donor age ranged from 35-57 years, and the mean percentage of endothelial cell loss calculated at 9 months follow-up was 27.32% ± 3.65%. The mean preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 1.02 ± 0.164 and 0.276 ± 0.173 logMAR, respectively (p = 0.000). No incidence of primary graft failure, graft rejection, or retinal detachment was reported during the entire follow-up period in any of the eyes.

CONCLUSION

DICT prevents hypotony and intraoperative pressure fluctuations, assists graft unrolling, promotes adherence to the recipient bed tissue, and prevents seepage of air into the vitreous cavity and loss of air tamponade in the anterior chamber.

Complications and outcomes of descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty with artisan aphakia intraocular lens implantation

AIM

To evaluate the complications and outcomes of descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) combined with artisan aphakia intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in severely damaged eyes without capsular support.

METHODS

DSAEK combined with artisan iris claw IOL implantation was performed on 29 eyes. All eyes were of abnormal structure due to complications from prior intraocular surgeries and ocular trauma. Ocular complications observed included graft dislocations, high intraocular pressure (IOP), IOL dislocations, macular edema and hyphema. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), IOP and mean central endothelial cell density (ECD) were recorded.

RESULTS

Thirteen eyes had a history of ocular trauma, 10 eyes had an anterior chamber IOL, 16 eyes had prior vitrectomy. The iris was abnormal in 22 cases. Graft dislocation occurred in 5 (17.2%) of 29 eyes. IOL dislocation occurred in 2 eyes (6.9%). High IOP was found in 9 eyes and was controlled with treatment. The preoperative mean BCVA was 20/286. The 6mo postoperative mean BCVA was 20/42. The average center ECD was 1965.3 cells/mm² at 6mo, and the rate of the donor cell loss was 34.7%.

CONCLUSION

DSAEK combined with artisan aphakia IOL implantation is an alternative option for resolving endothelial and lens disorders in aphakic eyes without capsular support. However, it should be performed cautiously for eyes with severe iris defects.

Iris Fixation of Unstable Anterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses

PURPOSE

To present a surgical approach for the treatment of unstable anterior chamber intraocular lenses (ACIOLs).

METHODS

We present a series of 8 patients who underwent iris fixation of an unstable open-looped ACIOL associated with progressive corneal damage. The loops of the intraocular lens were firmly fixated to the iris using 9-0 or 10-0 polypropylene sutures. In 2 cases, iris fixation was associated with penetrating keratoplasty. The other cases were performed using a relatively closed-system technique.

RESULTS

All procedures were uneventful, with no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Suture fixation effectively prevented anterior-posterior or propelling movement. The ACIOLs in all cases were stable and well centered at the end of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Fixation of an existing unstable angle-supported ACIOL to the iris is an effective and simple alternative to intraocular lens exchange and posterior chamber fixation.

Iris-claw, retropupillary-fixated, aphakic intraocular lens implantation for traumatic aphakia following penetrating keratoplasty

We report the correction of aphakia using an iris-claw, aphakic intraocular lens (IOL) fixated in a retropupillary location in a 17-year-old young man who suffered blunt trauma to his eye 5 months after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). There were no intraoperative complications. At 21 months after implantation, the patient's uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/28; his corrected distance visual acuity was 20/22, with +0.50 -3.00 × 155. Intraocular pressure was normal, and endothelial cell count was 1798 cells/mm(2).

Anterior chamber intraocular lens, sutured posterior chamber intraocular lens, or glued intraocular lens: where do we stand?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the recent literature addressing the surgical approaches to intraocular lens (IOL) fixation in the setting of inadequate capsular support.

RECENT FINDINGS

Lack of capsular support is a commonly encountered problem facing the anterior segment surgeon. Recent reports suggest that visual outcomes are generally good with modern IOLs and surgical approaches. More recently described techniques include sutureless scleral fixation and intraocular endoscopy-guided suture placement.

SUMMARY

Many clinical circumstances require extracapsular IOL fixation and multiple options exist in the setting of inadequate capsular support. Ultimately, there are many factors that must be considered in selecting an appropriate surgical approach. These include ocular history as well as the skill, experience, and comfort level of the individual surgeon. The myriad of options that now exist for IOL fixation increases the likelihood that patients with a wide variety of pathologic states will attain their best possible visual outcome.