Ocular pulse amplitude in patients with descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty

To study the relationship of ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes that have undergone successful Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK).

Fifty eyes of 38 patients with successful DSEK at a single tertiary referral center were followed up for at least 3 months. At the time of the study all patients were carefully examined to rule out any clinically detectable corneal edema. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), pneumotonometry (PT), and dynamic contour tonometry (DCT). IOP, OPA, and quality measurements were recorded. Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured by ultrasonic pachymetry.

Mean IOP was 15.9±4.9 mm Hg by GAT, 20.3±4.6 mm Hg by PT, and 19.8±4.4 mm Hg by DCT. Mean OPA was 2.53±1.24 mm Hg. OPA was correlated with GAT (r=0.357, P=0.011) and PT (r=0.316, P=0.026). The correlation of OPA and DCT approached significance (r=0.270, P=0.058). Mean CCT was 701±65 µm (range, 529 to 928 µm). OPA was not associated with CCT (r=0.238, P=0.096).

In eyes with DSEK, our results showed that OPA was similar to that reported in normal eyes. Comparable with results in normal eyes, OPA was not associated with CCT but was associated with increasing IOP in DSEK eyes.