CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2024-12-10DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003772
Annekatrin Rickmann, Warda Darwisch, Louise Massia Menkene, Silke Wahl, Peter Szurman, Sebastian Thaler, Jan-Philipp Bodenbender, Berthold Seitz, Philipp K Roberts
{"title":"Prevalence and Severity of Corneal Guttata After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.","authors":"Annekatrin Rickmann, Warda Darwisch, Louise Massia Menkene, Silke Wahl, Peter Szurman, Sebastian Thaler, Jan-Philipp Bodenbender, Berthold Seitz, Philipp K Roberts","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003772","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003772","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The postoperative occurrence of corneal guttae (CG) in patients after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) can lead to a significant reduction in visual acuity (VA) with the subsequent need for repeat DMEK. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and clinical significance of CG in transplanted corneas after DMEK.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The prevalence and progression of CG after DMEK of 1657 patients were examined using endothelial specular microscopy images. The severity grade of CG was classified into 3 grades (G1 <40%, G2 40-80%, G3 >80%). Central corneal thickness, VA, and endothelial cell density (ECD) were examined during a postoperative follow-up time of 19.5 ± 17.6 months (range 6-84 months).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of CG postoperatively was 1.3% (22/1657 eyes) after 4-6 weeks. We could classify 15/22 (68%) as G1, 5/22 (23%) as G2, and 2/22 (9%) as G3. In 12/22 (55%), either preparation and/or implantation was conspicuously difficult. None of the eyes showed an increase in CG during follow-up. 21/22 were stable in VA, central corneal thickness, and ECD during the entire follow-up. One patient with G3 required a repeat DMEK after 12 months (secondary graft failure).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The prevalence of CG in our study population was notably lower than previously described and was mainly characterized by mild, low-grade findings without clinical significance and were stable during the follow-up. Preoperative overlook of CG in the tissue bank cannot be completely excluded, but the remarkable proportion of intraoperative complications in this group may have led to the occurrence of these CG.</p>","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"1382-1387"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142806037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2024-10-29DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003745
Vito Romano, Matteo Airaldi, Davide Romano, Francesco Miglio, Alfredo Borgia, Mohit Parekh, Francesco Semeraro, Nicolas Cesário Pereira
{"title":"Off-Centered Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Grafts: Impact and Resolution.","authors":"Vito Romano, Matteo Airaldi, Davide Romano, Francesco Miglio, Alfredo Borgia, Mohit Parekh, Francesco Semeraro, Nicolas Cesário Pereira","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003745","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003745","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of off-centered Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) grafts compared to descemetorhexis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective case series of DMEK procedures conducted between June 2022 and July 2023 with postoperative graft decentration, characterized by a gap between the graft and descemetorhexis edge.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight eyes of 8 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average gap between the descemetorhexis edge and DMEK graft was 911.2 μm (range 306-1468). The resulting focal peripheral edema overlying the gap resolved in all cases, with a median time of 3 months. Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.49 (±0.26) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution to 0.01 (±0.02) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution at 12 months ( P = 0.003). Central corneal thickness decreased from 646.5 (±177.8) μm to 473.7 (±29.6) μm at 12 months ( P = 0.05). One eye, in the overlapped area of host-donor Descemet membranes, had small peripheral partial graft detachment less than one-third of graft surface area. No eyes required graft rebubbling. A larger descemetorhexis to DMEK gap showed a trend toward longer resolution times ( P = 0.06). Focal edema in the inferonasal periphery took longer to recover compared with the nasal position ( P = 0.01). Larger descemetorhexis to DMEK gaps did not significantly influence the longitudinal visual acuity trend ( P = 0.75).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Decentered DMEK, characterized by a gap between the graft and descemetorhexis edge, leads to focal stromal edema that diminishes over time, with no impact on final visual acuity.</p>","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"1352-1358"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003947
Luca Lucchino, Giacomo Visioli, Augusto Pocobelli
{"title":"Letter Regarding: Comparison of 2 Commercial Media for Corneal Organ Culture and Deswelling: CorneaMax/CorneaJet Versus Tissue-C/Carry-C.","authors":"Luca Lucchino, Giacomo Visioli, Augusto Pocobelli","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003947","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003947","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"e30"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2024-10-02DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003707
Alfredo Borgia, Matteo Airaldi, Stephen Kaye, Vito Romano, Roberto Dell'Omo, Kunal Gadhvi, George Moussa, Raffaele Raimondi
{"title":"Carbon Footprint of Fluorinated Gases Used in Endothelial Keratoplasty.","authors":"Alfredo Borgia, Matteo Airaldi, Stephen Kaye, Vito Romano, Roberto Dell'Omo, Kunal Gadhvi, George Moussa, Raffaele Raimondi","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003707","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003707","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study was to examine the direct impact on carbon emissions attributed to the use of fluorinated gases in endothelial keratoplasty (EK) procedures using gas tamponade and to evaluate the respective carbon footprint of different gas delivery systems used in EK procedures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective, single-center environmental impact study, all corneal procedures using fluorinated gases between January 2021 and January 2024 at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital were reviewed and included. The CO 2 equivalent emissions were calculated based on the mass of each fluorinated gas used, following the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 357 total procedures (160 Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty [44.8%], 118 Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty [33.1%], and 79 rebubbling [22.1%]), single-use sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) canisters were used in 278 (77.9%) procedures. SF6 canisters used in corneal transplantation emitted nearly 1.5 tons of CO 2 over 3 years. The 30-mL canisters emitted twice the CO 2 per GBP compared to SF6 15-mL canisters and 4 times that of C2F6 or C3F8 15-mL canisters.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Fluorinated gas use in corneal transplantation has a significant environmental impact, which can be reduced by the use of smaller single-use canisters with lower carbon footprint, although manufacturing and disposal concerns remain. Our findings advocate for a more environmentally conscious approach to EK, favoring the use of smaller, more cost-efficient canisters and considering air as an alternative tamponade where possible.</p>","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"1395-1399"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479060/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142364684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003811
Shivani P Majmudar, Priyanka Chhadva, Elmer Y Tu, Ali R Djalilian, Jose de la Cruz, Maria Soledad Cortina
{"title":"Long-Term Outcomes of Pediatric Keratoplasty at a Tertiary Care Center.","authors":"Shivani P Majmudar, Priyanka Chhadva, Elmer Y Tu, Ali R Djalilian, Jose de la Cruz, Maria Soledad Cortina","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003811","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003811","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To report the indications, postoperative visual outcomes, and long-term graft survival of primary pediatric keratoplasties performed at a single tertiary care center.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective review of pediatric patients (16 years and younger) who underwent surgical intervention for corneal opacity at a tertiary care center to evaluate long-term graft survival and visual rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy-three eyes of 46 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean patient age at the time of transplantation was 7.44 years (range, 5 months-15.72 years), and the average follow-up time was 5.82 years. Forty eyes (56%) had graft failure occurring at a mean time of 16.33 months (range, 27 days-12.58 years), of which 25 eyes (62.5%) underwent repeat keratoplasty. Cumulative graft survival probabilities at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years after keratoplasty were 60%, 55%, 44%, and 44%, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed Black ethnicity [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.72; confidence interval (CI), 1.16-19.23], mixed/other ethnicity (HR = 6.67, CI, 1.58-28.16), and keratoplasty in combination with another procedure (HR = 2.88; CI, 1.35-6.15) as significant risk factors of graft failure. 47 eyes (64%) achieved ambulatory vision (20/800 or better) at the last follow-up. Age younger than 5 years at time of keratoplasty was associated with better visual outcomes in patients with congenital disease ( P = 0.0017).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Pediatric keratoplasty has a high rate of graft failure but can achieve ambulatory vision in >60% of patients. Keratoplasty outcomes are improved in non-Hispanic, White patients and when the intervention is performed alone. Younger age at time of keratoplasty for congenital conditions improves the likelihood of overall visual rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"1333-1340"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143022485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-05-20DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003896
Mayan M Elammary, Pratima Vishwakarma, Roberto Pineda
{"title":"Report of Descemet-Sparing Technique for Boston Type I Keratoprosthesis With Clinical Follow-Up.","authors":"Mayan M Elammary, Pratima Vishwakarma, Roberto Pineda","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003896","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003896","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of this study was to describe the long-term outcome following a modified technique of the Boston type I keratoprosthesis (KPro) placement over a period of 7 years.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty combined with Boston type I KPro Click-On implantation was performed in a patient with history of uveitic glaucoma, glaucoma drainage device placement, and multiple graft failures including four Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty procedures for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy followed by penetrating keratoplasty.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Using this modified surgical approach, the patient's right eye vision improved from hand motion preoperatively to 20/150 on postoperative day 1. Six months later, he underwent Nd:YAG laser of an opacified central Descemet membrane, after which vision improved to 20/80 and was maintained over 7 years. No other postoperative common KPro complications occurred. A recent contact lens trial with a correction of -9D improved vision further to 20/30.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This modified surgical technique for placement of Boston type I KPro is less invasive compared with conventional methods and may prevent complications associated with an open-sky surgery, making it a safer alternative. Furthermore, when combined with Nd:YAG laser membranectomy of the Descemet membrane, vision can be further improved.</p>","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"1423-1425"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-04-08DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003874
Garrett N Manion, Kayvon A Moin, Alex H Brown, Tyler V Olson, Guy M Kezirian, Phillip C Hoopes, Majid Moshirfar
{"title":"Preoperative Risk Factors of Keratometry, Myopia, Astigmatism, Age, and Sex for Myopic Regression After Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, Photorefractive Keratectomy, and Keratorefractive Lenticule Extraction.","authors":"Garrett N Manion, Kayvon A Moin, Alex H Brown, Tyler V Olson, Guy M Kezirian, Phillip C Hoopes, Majid Moshirfar","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003874","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003874","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative and demographic risk factors of myopic regression 1 year after corneal refractive surgery.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective study of 2093 patients (2781 eyes) who underwent laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), or small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and experienced myopic regression of ≥0.5 D 1 year after surgery was conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The incidence of regression at 1 year was higher in the overall SMILE group (10.1%) and steep keratometry group (9.6%) ( P < 0.05). SMILE eyes with normal (9.0%) and steep corneas (18.2%) had a higher incidence of regression than those of LASIK and PRK eyes ( P < 0.05). The mean magnitude of spherical equivalent (SEQ) regression for all regressed eyes was -0.63 ± 0.15 D. The overall SMILE group had a greater mean magnitude of spherical regression than the overall LASIK and PRK groups (-0.66 D vs. -0.48 D vs. -0.46 D, P < 0.05). There were no differences in cylindrical regression between any analyzed groups ( P > 0.05). Female status and SEQ predicted -0.034 D [(-0.051, -0.017), P < 0.001] and -0.012 D [(-0.018, -0.006), P < 0.001] of regression, respectively. Age and preoperative K m had an odds ratio for regression of 1.033 [(1.017, 1.049), P < 0.001] and 1.109 [(1.006, 1.221), P < 0.001], respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Risk factors of myopic regression at 1 year included older age, female sex, steep corneas, and higher preoperative SEQ. SMILE had a higher incidence and greater magnitude of regression compared with LASIK and PRK.</p>","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"1367-1375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-08-25DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003967
Ahmed F Omar, Loretta B Szczotka-Flynn, Beth Ann Benetz, Jonathan Carcione, Jonathan H Lass
{"title":"National Eye Institute Supported Randomized Controlled Trials in Keratoplasty for Endothelial Disorders: Lessons Learned.","authors":"Ahmed F Omar, Loretta B Szczotka-Flynn, Beth Ann Benetz, Jonathan Carcione, Jonathan H Lass","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003967","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003967","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>National Eye Institute (NEI)-funded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have significantly shaped the modern landscape of keratoplasty for endothelial disorders. Unlike retrospective studies, RCTs have offered the highest level of clinical evidence and have addressed critical questions related to histocompatibility matching, donor and donor tissue characteristics, donor tissue storage, and operative and postoperative factors supporting postoperative endothelial cell health. These RCTs have in turn directly influenced eye banking and keratoplasty practices. The purpose of this review is to 1) summarize the major findings from all of the NEI-sponsored keratoplasty RCTs, including the Collaborative Corneal Transplantation Studies, the Cornea Donor Study and its ancillary study, the Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study, the Cornea Preservation Time Study, as well as the on-going Diabetes Endothelial Keratoplasty Study and the Descemet Endothelial Thickness Comparison Trial; 2) review select keratoplasty RCTs not supported by the NEI; 3) compare findings from these RCTs with those from the major keratoplasty registries; and 4) discuss promising future directions in keratoplasty and eye banking that would lend themselves for RCTs. Collectively, these RCTs have clarified long-standing controversies, validated emerging practices, and will continue to provide the foundation for future innovation in the surgical management of endothelial diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"1323-1332"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479066/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144945734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CorneaPub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2024-12-12DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003777
Maria A Henriquez, Carolina Larco, Luis Izquierdo
{"title":"Definition of Progressive Keratoconus: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Maria A Henriquez, Carolina Larco, Luis Izquierdo","doi":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003777","DOIUrl":"10.1097/ICO.0000000000003777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To identify the definitions used for progressive keratoconus in the literature.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic literature review aimed to identify the definitions used for \"progressive keratoconus\" in the published articles. A comprehensive search from January 2018 to May 2023 was conducted across Cochrane Library, PubMed, Taylor & Francis, Web of Science, and other bibliographic databases at Oftalmosalud, Lima, Peru. The inclusion criteria were articles including patients with keratoconus without any previous surgical procedure and containing the definition of \"progressive keratoconus\" or \"keratoconus progression\" and a sample size greater than 10 eyes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 221 articles were included for analysis. The 3 most frequent parameters to define progression included data from anterior curvature, pachymetry, and refraction used in 97.8% (216/221), 37.6% (83/221), and 32.1% (71/221) of the articles, respectively. Specifically, the most frequent criterion used was maximum keratometry (Kmax), used in 85.5% (189/221) of the articles. Progression was assessed between 6- and 12-month follow-up in 64.7% (143/221) of the articles. Data from posterior cornea were used in only 8.1% (18/221) of the studies. None of the studies included data from the corneal epithelium.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The present study demonstrates the lack of unified criteria to define progression of keratoconus and an underutilization of the technology described. It also shows that the single point Kmax measurement is the most commonly used criterion, followed by a change in refractive astigmatism and thinning at the thinnest pachymetric point.</p>","PeriodicalId":10710,"journal":{"name":"Cornea","volume":" ","pages":"1341-1351"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142817352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}