Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Long-term Outcomes After Lamellar Endothelial Keratoplasty Compared With Penetrating Keratoplasty for Corneal
Daniel Lemaitre1, Moise Tourabaly1, Vincent Borderie1
1GRC 32, Transplantation et Thérapies Innovantes de la Cornée, Sorbonne Université, Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, France; and.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term outcomes of endothelial keratoplasty (EK) compared with penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for corneal endothelial dysfunction [Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and bullous keratopathy (BK)].
Methods:
In this systematic review, we searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase up to May 2022 and considered all types of studies addressing our objective. Graft survival at 5, 10, and 15 years was the main outcome.
Results:
Fifty cohort studies were included. At 5 years, in FECD and BK, graft survival seemed higher after EK than PK. Two comparative studies showed either a higher 5-year graft survival after EK than PK or no significant differences. Including noncomparative studies, in FECD, the 5-year graft survival ranged from 0.69 to 0.98 for PK, from 0.93 to 1.00 for DSEK, and from 0.93 to 0.99 for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). In BK, the 5-year graft survival ranged from 0.39 to 0.91 for PK, from 0.65 to 0.89 for DSEK, and from 0.84 to 0.95 for DMEK. The 10-year graft survival ranged from 0.20 to 0.90 for PK and from 0.62 to 0.92 for EK. The mean 5-year best spectacle-corrected visual acuity ranged from 0.73 to 0.43 LogMAR for PK, from 0.61 to 0.09 for DSEK, and from 0.31 to 0.05 for DMEK. The 5-year rejection rate ranged from 11.0% to 28.7% for PK, from 5.0% to 7.9% for DSEK, and from 1.7% to 2.6% for DMEK.
Conclusions:
These results suggest a higher 5-year graft survival and better secondary outcomes after EK. Nevertheless, the level of evidence was low.
Prospero Registration:
CRD42021260614.
