title: Development of a nomogram to achieve ultrathin donor corneal disks for Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the predictability of a nomogram for ultrathin donor lamella creation for Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) with an automated microkeratome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Instituto de Oftalmología La Arruzafa, Córdoba, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective nonrandomized consecutive case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled eyes of consecutive patients in which DSAEK was performed to treat Fuchs dystrophy or bullous keratopathy. Patients with macular pathology or other vision-limiting pathology were included. The same surgeon performed all surgeries using an automated keratome (Amadeus II) linked to an artificial anterior chamber. The target donor lamella thickness was from 70 to 120 μm based on a nomogram that incorporates advancement speed, blade holder size, and corneal thickness. The decimal corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) at 3 months postoperatively, graft thickness at 1 month, and complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients (60 eyes) were enrolled. One month postoperatively, the mean donor lamella thickness was 99.33 μm ± 16.97 (SD) (range 67 to 130 μm). The target thickness range was achieved in 96.66% of cases (58 eyes). In 32 patients with a potential visual acuity of 20/20, the mean postoperative CDVA was 0.80 ± 0.16 (range 0.55 to 1.20). There were no complications during flap preparation, intraoperatively, or postoperatively and no events caused donor corneal tissue to be discarded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a nomogram with an automated microkeratome for DSAEK provided good visual outcomes with a thin donor lamella (≤120 μm). The outcomes with the nomogram were similar to those reported for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
authors.affiliation: From the Instituto de Oftalmología La Arruzafa, Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: alvillarrubia@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villarrubia
authors.affiliation: From the Instituto de Oftalmología La Arruzafa, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cano-Ortiz
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000601:surgery; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D049451:Nomograms; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016683:Supine Position; D014019:Tissue Donors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology