Longterm results of deep lamellar keratoplasty using grafts with endothelium.
OBJECTIVE
To report the longterm results of deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLK) using grafts with their own endothelia.


METHODS
Fourteen eyes of 14 patients underwent DLK using grafts with endothelium. The average follow-up was approximately 80.0 months. Preoperative diagnoses included: corneal leukoma (five eyes); gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (three eyes); Avellino corneal dystrophy (two eyes); corneal perforation (two eyes); corneal mucopolysaccharidosis (one eye), and keratoconus (one eye).


RESULTS
Corrected visual acuity was improved in 13 eyes (93%), but ruptures of Descemet's membrane occurred in six eyes (43%) and a double anterior chamber was found in five eyes (36%) postoperatively. Despite this, all grafts remained clear as a result of their functioning endothelia.


CONCLUSIONS
Deep lamellar keratoplasty using a graft with its own endothelium is a safe and valuable procedure with flexibility and feasibility that should suit corneal surgeons of all levels.
Higaki
Shiro
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. higaki@ganka.med.kindai.ac.jp
Hori
Yuichi
Y
Maeda
Naoyuki
N
Watanabe
Hitoshi
H
Inoue
Yoshitsugu
Y
Shimomura
Yoshikazu
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000293:injuries; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000637:transplantation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009083:Mucopolysaccharidoses / Q000150:complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity