Corneal Transplantations

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Overview

Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP)

  • Indication: Any stromal or endothelial corneal pathology, especially bullous keratopathy (pseudophakic, aphakic), keratoconus, scars, Peter’s Anomaly
  • Advantages: No interface-associated visual problems
  • Disadvantages: Astigmatism, neuropathic keratopathy (delayed wound healing, persistent epithelial defects)
  • Suture removal begins after 9-12 months (interrupted sutures) or 12-24 months (continuous suture); removal of a radial suture after PKP (if knot in host cornea) ; after suture removal, e.g., Floxal UD 4x daily for 4-5 days.

Superficial Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (SALK)

  • Indication: Superficial stromal dystrophies and degenerations, Salzmann nodules, scars (post-infection/trauma)
  • Advantages: Faster visual rehabilitation, reduced risk of rejection
  • Disadvantages: Uneven surface, interface vascularisation

Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK)

  • Indication: Keratoconus, scars after infections, stromal dystrophies not affecting endothelium
  • Advantages: Sutures can be removed faster than in PKP due to more stable wound, fewer steroids needed
  • Disadvantages: Surface irregularities

Descement Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK)

  • Indication: Endothelial dystrophies, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, ICE syndrome, failed corneal grafts
  • Advantages: Rapid visual rehabilitation, no suture-associated issues, stable corneal surface (less astigmatism), fewer follow-up checks needed, rare need for re-bubbling
  • Disadvantages: Stromal haze, subepithelial fibrosis, or irregularity
  • Additional: Visual improvement expected within 6 months to 1 year. Patients typically achieve an average visual acuity of 0.63. Average graft survival 6-7 years

Descement’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)

  • Indication: Same as DSAEK
  • Advantages: Rapid visual rehabilitation (generally better visual outcome than DSAEK), no suture-associated issues, stable corneal surface, reduced risk of immune reaction
  • Disadvantages: Stromal haze, subepithelial fibrosis or irregularity, more extensive postoperative follow-ups, more frequent re-bubbling (about 20%)
  • Additional: Average graft survival 6-7 year

Transplantatabstossung

  • Any corneal layer can be rejected
  • Endothelial rejection most common and serious, as loss of endothelial cells leads to decompensation
  • Findings (post-PKP):
    • Early stage: ciliary vessel injection and anterior uveitis
    • Epithelial rejection: Raised epithelial line of abnormal epithelium, usually quiet eye; occurs on average after 3 months; treatment not always necessary
    • Subepithelial rejection: Subepithelial infiltrates (= Krachmer spots) in donor cornea
    • Stromal rejection: Haze (deep corneal clouding)
    • Endothelial rejection: Endothelial precipitates , typically linear arrangement (= Khadadoust line) associated with inflammation at the transplant edge
  • Treatment
    • Local steroids: e.g., Pred forte hourly for 24 hours, then Pred forte during the day and Ultracortenol ointment at night for about 2 weeks; then tapering off steroids every 2 weeks to a lifelong minimum dose higher than at the time of rejection
    • +/- systemic steroids (1mg/kg body weight for 1 week then taper over 3 weeks) or subconjunctival steroids necessary if no improvement after 3 days
    • +/- local cycloplegics like Atropine gtt
    • +/- Ciclosporin 0.05% gtt

Treatment Regimen after Corneal Transplantations (PKP, DSAEK, DMEK)

Possible regimen; preparations/dosages may vary depending on clinic/surgeon

  • 1st Week: Pred forte eye drops 2 hourly, Ultracortenol eye ointment at night, Floxal eye drops 3x per day for 1 week then stop
  • 2nd-4th Week: Pred forte eye drops 4x per day, Ultracortenol eye ointment at night
  • After 1 Month: Pred forte eye drops 3x per day and Ultracortenol eye ointment at night
  • After 3 Months: Dexafree UD 3x per day and Ultracortenol eye ointment at night
  • After 6 Months: Dexafree UD 2x per day
  • After 9 Months: Dexafree UD 1x per day
  • After 12 Months: FML Liquifilm eye drops 1x per day long term, if no pressure problems

Follow-up:

  • 1st Month: Approximately weekly checks (Epithelial closure? IOP? Adherent lamella?)
    • After 1 Month: Possibly suturolisis of scleral suture depending on astigmatism
  • From 2nd to 6th Month: Monthly checks
  • After 6 Months: Approximately every 3 months
  • After 1 Year: Approximately every 6 to 12 months
  • Confocal microscopy (endothelial cell count?) every 3-6 months during the first year, then every 1-2 years

Sources