title: Corneal deturgescence after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty evaluated by Visante anterior segment optical coherence tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate postoperative corneal deturgescence after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) using the Visante anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) system (Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc, Dublin, California, USA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 21 eyes (9 males and 12 females; mean age +/- standard deviation, 76.3 +/- 12 years). The Visante OCT system was used to determine the central and peripheral endothelial keratoplasty graft thickness and total central and peripheral corneal thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Central graft thickness decreased from the first day (243.3 +/- 92 microm) to the last visit (147.8 +/- 44 microm; P = .0001). The rate of central graft thinning slowed during the following intervals: during the first week (47 microm), at 1 week to 1 month (40 microm), and at 1 to 6 months (25 microm), with a mild increase at 6 to 9 months (5 microm). Peripheral graft thickness continued to decrease from postoperative day 1 (318.5 +/- 99 microm) to the last visit (196.7 +/- 50 microm; P = .0001). There was a decrease in total central corneal thickness from day 1 (903.8 +/- 179 microm) to the last visit (671 +/- 93 microm; P = .0001). All patients were imaged with the Visante OCT at the first 4 defined postoperative intervals; however, only 9 eyes were imaged at the last interval of 6 to 9 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After DSAEK, there is a greater thinning of the central graft compared with the peripheral graft. The central cornea thickness decreases and peripheral corneal thickness increases. Central corneal graft deturgescence stabilizes by 6 months after surgery.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Di Pascuale
authors.forename: Pawan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prasher
authors.forename: Charlie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schlecte
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arey
authors.forename: R Wayne
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: H Dwight
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Cavanagh
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McCulley
authors.forename: V Vinod
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Mootha