Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Predictive value of optical coherence tomography in graft attachment after Descemet's membrane endothelial
Ru-Yin Yeh1, Ruth Quilendrino, Fayyaz U Musa
1Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Purpose:
To evaluate the predictive value of early anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) on graft adherence or detachment after Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).
Design:
Retrospective study of prospectively collected data at a tertiary referral center.
Participants:
A total of 87 eyes of 87 patients of a consecutive series of 142 DMEK surgeries.
Methods:
Anterior segment OCT was performed within the first hour after DMEK and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, and for each time interval detachments were classified as "none," ≤ 1/3 detachment, >1/3 detachment of the total graft surface area, or "complete" detachment. Throughout the study, no rebubbling procedures were performed.
Main Outcome Measures:
Graft adherence at various postoperative time intervals.
Results:
One-hour AS-OCT scans were more accurate at predicting the final 6-month graft adherence status than those at 1 week or 1 month. Grafts showing complete attachment or <1/3 detachment at 1 hour remained stable or improved in 73% of the cases at 1 week, 82% at 1 month, 86% at 3 months, and 90% at 6 months. All grafts attached at 1 week remained attached at 6 months. Graft detachments of >1/3 at 1 hour showed reattachment at 6 months in 25% of the cases, whereas 67.5% of the cases showed a persistent detachment of >1/3 at 6 months and 12.5% showed a complete detachment.
Conclusions:
The 1-hour AS-OCT scan showed the best predictive value on 6-month graft adherence status. The combined information of the 1-hour and 1-week AS-OCT scans may facilitate decision making about surgical reintervention after DMEK.
