Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty: 10-Year Cell Loss and Failure Rate Compared With Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty and Penetrating Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess long-term endothelial cell loss (ECL) and graft failure with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) versus penetrating keratoplasty (PK) performed for the same indications (primarily Fuchs dystrophy and pseudophakic corneal edema) in the Cornea Donor Study.

METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive primary DMEK (529 recipients, 739 eyes) and DSEK cases (585 recipients, 748 eyes) with 1 or more endothelial cell density (ECD) measurements at 6 months to 16 years. Main outcomes were ECD, longitudinal ECL, and graft failure.

RESULTS: Between 6 months and 8 years the ECD declined linearly by approximately 118 cells/mm2/yr after DMEK and 112 cells/mm2/yr after DSEK. Beyond 8 years postoperatively the rate of decline slowed substantially. Selective dropout from graft failure did not significantly affect the ECD trend. At 10 years, median ECL (interquartile range) was 63% (45, 73) with DMEK, 68% (48, 78) with DSEK, and 76% (70, 82) with PK (P = 0.01 DMEK vs. DSEK, P <0.001 DMEK vs. PK, and P < 0.001 DSEK vs. PK). The proportion of surviving grafts with 10-year ECD <500 cells/mm2 was 1.4% with DMEK, 7.3% with DSEK, and 23.9% with PK. The cumulative risk of graft failure between 6 months and 10 years was 5% with DMEK, 11% with DSEK, and 19% with PK (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with PK and DSEK, DMEK had significantly lower ECL and significantly lower risk of secondary graft failure through 10 years.