Four-Year Survival Comparison of Endothelial Keratoplasty Techniques in Patients With Previous Glaucoma Surgery

To compare 4-year survival outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in eyes with previous glaucoma surgery.

This is a retrospective, comparative case series, including patients with previous trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage device implantation, who later underwent either DMEK (n = 48) or DSAEK (n = 41). Follow-up was limited to 12 to 60 months to prevent bias. Primary outcomes were graft survival and rejection. Secondary outcomes were best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), detachment/rebubble, endothelial cell loss, and intraocular pressure elevations.

Baseline characteristics, follow-up duration, and preexisting glaucoma parameters did not differ significantly between the groups. Graft survival probability after DMEK and DSAEK was 75% and 75% at 1 year, 63% and 50% at 2 years, 49% and 44% at 3 years, 28% and 33% at 4 years, and 28% and 29% at 5 years, respectively (P = 0.899 between the groups). Graft rejection rates were 20.8% and 19.5%, respectively (P = 1.000). Primary failure, rebubbling, endothelial cell loss, and intraocular pressure elevation did not differ significantly between the groups. Preoperative BSCVA did not differ between the groups (P = 0.821). Postoperative BSCVA was significantly better in the DMEK group at 6, 12, and 24 months (P < 0.001, P = 0.022, and P = 0.047, respectively). In a multivariable model (R2 = 0.576), the type of surgery was the only significant factor affecting postoperative BSCVA, in favor of DMEK (coefficient value -0.518, P = 0.002).

In eyes with previous glaucoma surgery, DMEK and DSAEK had comparably low survival and comparably high rejection rates. Postoperative visual acuity might be better after DMEK in this setting.