DMEK Surgery at a Tertiary Hospital in Sweden. Results and Complication Risks

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.