Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) early stage graft failure in eyes with preexisting glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a preexisting glaucoma on the early postoperative outcome of a descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

METHODS: All patients who underwent DMEK surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Muenster with a follow-up of at least 3 months (90d) were included in this study. The best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), the intraocular pressure (IOD), the rate of re-keratoplasty and the rebubbling rate were inter alia recorded. The results of patients with (group 1) and without a preexisting glaucoma (group 2) were compared.

RESULTS: 74 eyes of 59 patients with a mean follow-up of 152 ± 70 days were included. 65 eyes were in group 1 and 9 eyes in group 2. The BCDVA significantly improved in both groups after surgery (p < 0.03). The Re-keratoplasty rate (p = 0.172), the number of rebubblings per patient (p = 0.571) and the rebubbling rate (p = 0.939) were not significantly different in patients without glaucoma compared to patients with a preexisting glaucoma.

CONCLUSIONS: In the early stage outcome of DMEK no significant impact of a preexisting glaucoma was found.