Case Report: Role of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography for Managing Failed Endothelial Keratoplasty Graft

Some patients show poor visual outcomes after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty. In such cases, secondary Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty can be performed to achieve complete visual recovery. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) is a valuable tool for the follow-up of posterior lamellar keratoplasty outcomes and complications.

This study aimed to report the clinical outcome of secondary Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty for managing poor visual results in a patient with graft failure after a previous Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, highlighting the importance of AS-OCT in the follow-up of endothelial keratoplasty.

A 38-year-old woman with high myopia underwent Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy after explantation of an angle-supported phakic intraocular lens. Two years after keratoplasty, the patient experienced poor visual acuity (counting fingers), and significant corneal edema was observed on clinical examination hindering visualization of the anterior chamber structures. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography showed a failed and thickened graft adhering well to the recipient cornea in an anterior chamber without other comorbidities. Therefore, the graft was removed and replaced with a Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty graft without any complications. One year later, the clinical outcome was evaluated by comparing the pre-operative and post-operative best-corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopy findings, endothelial cell density, and corneal central thickness.

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography is an important tool when deciding on the surgical technique to be applied and for the post-surgical monitoring of endothelial corneal grafts. This case demonstrates the successful management of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty graft failure with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty graft, highlighting the importance of AS-OCT in detecting complications such as graft dislocation and primary graft failure. In addition, corneal thickness measured using AS-OCT serves as a critical predictor of graft failure, as observed in this case.