To Örebro University

PURPOSE: This study reports clinical outcomes up to 6 years after Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) performed at the Department of Ophthalmology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.

METHODS: The study has a cross-sectional and case series design. Inclusion criteria were all DMEK-operated eyes during 2013-2018 until repeat keratoplasty.

RESULTS: Altogether 162 eyes from 120 patients were enrolled. Among eyes without preoperative comorbidities, examined 1-6 years after DMEK, 85.8% achieved visual acuity of 0.1 logMAR or better. The median endothelial cell density (ECD) loss was 27% in a cohort of eyes examined 1-2 years post-DMEK, 31% at 2-3 years, 42% at 3-4 years, and > 60% at 4-6 years post-DMEK. ECD at the examination timepoint was correlated with donor ECD (as expected) and time since surgery.

CONCLUSION: The results from DMEK surgeries in Örebro, Sweden, are promising. Further studies with even longer follow-up are needed to evaluate graft sustainability.