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Exp Eye Res 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

School of Optometry, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA. Electronic address:

SLC4A11 mutations are associated with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED) and Harboyan syndrome (endothelial dystrophy with auditory deficiency). Mice with genetically ablated Slc4a11 recapitulate CHED, exhibiting significant corneal edema and altered endothelial morphology. We recently demonstrated that SLC4A11 functions as an NH sensitive, electrogenic H transporter. Read More

Eye (Lond) 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Purpose: To assess Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) without performing a peripheral iridotomy (PI) prior to or during surgery ("PI-less DMEK").

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients that underwent PI-less DMEK by a single surgeon (E.L) between February 2016 and February 2017 at the Rabin Medical Center, a Tertiary Hospital. Read More

Antioxidants (Basel) 2018 Dec 4;7(12). Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell group, Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), Singapore 169856, Singapore.

The inner layer of the cornea, the corneal endothelium, is post-mitotic and unable to regenerate if damaged. The corneal endothelium is one of the most transplanted tissues in the body. Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the leading indication for corneal endothelial transplantation. Read More

Can J Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 9;53(6):580-587. Epub 2018 May 9.

Keenan Research Centre at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ont; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.. Electronic address:

Objective: To assess trends in surgical procedures and indications for all corneal transplants performed at the University of Toronto.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Participants: One thousand one hundred and four consecutive corneal transplants performed at the Kensington Eye Institute (KEI). Read More

Am J Ophthalmol 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery (NIIOS), Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Amnitrans Eye Bank Rotterdam, The Netherlands; NIIOS-USA, San Diego, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in eyes with a glaucoma drainage device (GDD).

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Methods: Clinical outcomes of 23 DMEK procedures for bullous keratopathy (52%), failed previous transplant (39%) or Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (9%) in 20 eyes (19 patients) with a GDD were retrospectively analyzed at two tertiary referral centers. Read More

PLoS One 2018 29;13(11):e0207891. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Surgical Sciences, Eye Clinic, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of 3D anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) for the detection of corneal endothelial features in patients with Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD).

Methods: Twenty patients with clinical diagnosis of FECD (group A), and 20 control subjects (group B) were enrolled. In all patients a complete ophthalmological examination was performed, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp examination for subjective grading of FECD and corneal endothelial specular microscopy. Read More

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018 Nov;59(13):5627-5632

Laboratory for Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation "LUNE", UMI Georgia Tech-CNRS 2958, Metz, France.

Purpose: To describe the application of scanning acoustic microscopy in the GHz-range (GHz-SAM) for qualitative imaging and quantitative characterization of the micromechanical properties of the Descemet's membrane and endothelial cells of cornea tissue.

Methods: Investigated were samples of a normal tissue and a tissue with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (FECD, cornea Guttata). Descemet's membranes were fixed on glass substrates and imaged utilizing a focused acoustic lens operating at a center frequency of 1 GHz. Read More

Ophthalmologe 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universität zu Köln, Kerpenerstr. 62, 50924, Köln, Deutschland.

Background: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) has become the standard surgical treatment for Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) in Germany. In addition to classical FECD, there are endothelial disorders amenable to DMEK associated with complex changes in the anterior segment of the eye, such as anterior synechia of the iris, larger iris defects, after glaucoma surgery, after vitrectomy and after trauma.

Objective: This article provides an overview of the possibilities to treat patients with complex anterior segment situations in the presence of corneal endothelial decompensation with DMEK. Read More

Exp Eye Res 2018 Nov 22;180:18-22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States. Electronic address:

Early-onset Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) has been associated with nonsynonymous mutations in collagen VIII α2 (COL8A2), a key extracellular matrix (ECM) protein in Descemet's membrane (DM). Two knock-in strains of mice have been generated to each express a mutant COL8A2 protein (Col8a2 and Col8a2) that recapitulate the clinical phenotype of early-onset FECD including endothelial cell loss, cellular polymegathism and pleomorphism, and guttae. Due to abnormalities in ECM protein composition and structure in FECD, the stiffness of DM in Col8a2 knock-in mice and wildtype (WT) controls was measured using atomic force microscopy at 5 and 10 months of age, coinciding with the onset of FECD phenotypic abnormalities. Read More

Exp Eye Res 2018 Nov 13;179:188-192. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of General Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, Chmielna 1, 20-079, Lublin, Poland; Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:

We provide the evidence for G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) presence and distribution in the human cornea. The initial data on GPR35 gene expression were retrieved from microarray repositories and were further confirmed by western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. Immunoblotting suggested that GPR35 exists predominantly as a dimer in corneal tissue. Read More

Cornea 2018 Nov 12. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Purpose: To describe the ghost Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) technique that allows for real-time evaluation of DMEK graft orientation, location, and folding status within the anterior chamber, by simple observation at the surgical microscope.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series done in a university hospital. The study included 10 patients who underwent ghost DMEK surgery because of corneal endothelial insufficiency for Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (N = 5), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (N = 2), and failed previous posterior lamellar keratoplasty (N = 3). Read More

JAMA Ophthalmol 2018 Oct 26. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Verdier Eye Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Importance: Determining factors associated with endothelial cell loss after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) could improve long-term graft survival.

Objective: To evaluate the associations of donor, recipient, and operative factors with endothelial cell density (ECD) 3 years after DSAEK in the Cornea Preservation Time Study.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study was a secondary analysis of data collected in a multicenter, double-masked, randomized clinical trial. Read More

Ophthalmologe 2018 Nov 6. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Deutschland.

Background: Following new treatment options for Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy, our understanding of optical and structural changes in the patient's cornea is also starting to improve.

Objective: To provide an update on clinical evaluation of Fuchs' dystrophy.

Material And Methods: Standardized approaches to evaluate patients with Fuchs dystrophy in routine practice and research are discussed, accounting for the progressive and partially irreversible structural changes in all corneal layers. Read More

Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2018 Nov 2. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

OD, Private practice, Miami, USA. Electronic address:

Research and reviews have resulted in clear indications for scleral lens (SL) wear. Those indications include visual rehabilitation; therapeutic use in managing ocular surface diseases, lid and orbit disorders; and refractive correction to enhance visual quality, comfort and quality of life. In some cases, the use of SLs may be contraindicated: the presence of low endothelial cell density; Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy; glaucoma (because of the risk of an increase in intraocular pressure and the existence and location of draining devices and blebs); or overnight wear. Read More

Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol 2018 ;7(3):101-111

HDR Research Center, Hoopes Vision, 11820 S. State Street Suite #200, Draper, UT 84020, USA.

The use of Rho Kinase (ROCK) inhibitors as therapeutic agents in ophthalmology has been a topic of discussion for several years, particularly in the realm of glaucoma, Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, and diabetic retinopathy. In this review, the authors provide a detailed and comprehensive overview of the published literature on the use of Rho kinase inhibitors for the aforementioned purposes. A thorough search of several databases was conducted to find sufficient literature on ROCK inhibitors. Read More

Ophthalmologe 2018 Oct 26. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinik Köln, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924, Köln, Deutschland.

Background And Objective: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) has increased in popularity since its introduction over 10 years ago. This article presents a summary of the experiences of the past years collected at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Cologne.

Methods: A literature review of DMEK studies primarily from the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Cologne, Germany was carried out. Read More

Cornea 2018 Oct 19. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Purpose: To study the influence of different intraoperative air tamponade times on graft adherence after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: In this interventional case series, we evaluated 117 eyes with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) that underwent DMEK using intraoperative air tamponade times of 60 minutes (group I; n = 39), 45 minutes (group II; n = 39), or 30 minutes (group III; n = 39). At 1 and 6 months postoperatively, graft adherence status, endothelial cell density, central pachymetry, and postoperative complications were recorded. Read More

Curr Eye Res 2018 Oct 19:1-7. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

a Department of Ophthalmology , Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health , Berlin , Germany.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify predictors for the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central corneal thickness (CCT), and the endothelial cell density (ECD) after primary Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: In a prospective observational study, 108 eyes with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy underwent a primary DMEK. Preoperative data, histologic parameters from host's Descemet's membrane, and follow-up data of the first eye were analyzed in regard to BCVA, CCT, and ECD, 12 months after surgery. Read More

Acta Ophthalmol 2018 Oct 14. Epub 2018 Oct 14.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Purpose: To assess the effect of donor tissue diameter in Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) on postoperative endothelial cell density (ECD) mainly in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) patients.

Methods: Retrospective review of 693 consecutive DMEK surgeries from the prospective Cologne DMEK database performed between 07/2011 and 07/2016 at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne. Eight- versus ten-millimetre large donor DMEK grafts of two different surgeons using identical surgical techniques were compared. Read More

Cornea 2018 Nov;37 Suppl 1:S50-S54

Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medicial School, and Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA.

The corneal endothelium (CE) is vital for maintaining the water balance and clarity of the cornea. The CE is a cell layer that is particularly susceptible to aging because of its postmitotic arrest, high metabolic activity involving pumping of ions, and lifelong exposure to ultraviolet light. Despite gradual age-related cell loss, a sufficient number of CE cells are preserved during the lifespan of an individual. Read More

PLoS One 2018 5;13(10):e0203993. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Objective: Comparison of conventional Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP), posterior mushroom PKP and Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) regarding overall graft survival of primary corneal transplants for Fuchs´ endothelial dystrophy (FED), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and astigmatism.

Methods: Single centre study using prospectively collected data from the national database for follow-up of corneal transplants. Main outcome parameters: 10 years graft survival, astigmatism at 24 months, pre- and post-operative BSCVA. Read More

Ophthalmology 2018 Sep 28. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.

Purpose: To determine the cost-effectiveness of Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) compared with Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in the United States.

Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis in a surgical center in the United States.

Participants: Binocular adult patient undergoing endothelial keratoplasty. Read More

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018 Sep;59(11):4748-4754

S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Complex Federal State Institution, Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.

Purpose: To assess the occurrence and diagnostic performance of nine single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the TCF4, SLC4A11, LOXHD1, and AGBL1 genes and the CTG18.1 trinucleotide repeat expansion in a Russian cohort of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) patients.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study included 100 patients diagnosed with FECD (cases) and 100 patients with cataracts (controls). Read More

PLoS One 2018 27;13(9):e0204278. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) Bhubaneswar, HBNI, P.O. Bhimpur-Padanpur, Jatni, Khurda, Odisha, India.

Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is a genetically complex disorder that affects individuals above 40 years of age; molecular pathogenesis of its associated genes is poorly understood. This study aims at assessing the association of flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) polymorphisms, c.-69G>A (rs174538) and c. Read More

Cornea 2018 Nov;37 Suppl 1:S74-S77

Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a bilateral progressive corneal endothelial disease characterized by guttae, which present as partial Descemet membrane thickening, inducing corneal edema at the final stage. Oxidative stress has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of FECD. The electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos) system in mitochondria are the main sources of endogenous oxidative stress, arising from superoxide generation through premature electron leakage to oxygen. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2018 Oct;66(10):1478-1480

Department of Cornea, Anterior Segment and Refractive Services, C L Gupta Eye Institute, Ram Ganga Vihar Phase II, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

We report a case of a 46-year-old female who developed infectious crystalline keratopathy (ICK) after Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). She underwent DSEK for pseudophakic corneal edema in her left eye. Ten weeks after the procedure, the patient presented with complaints of blurred vision, redness in eye, and ocular pain. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2018 Dec 6;12:65-67. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Department of Ophthalmology, St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Purpose: To report the management of an intraoperative complication during large (9.5 mm) ultra-thin Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) surgery in a patient with a large area of dysfunctional endothelium.

Observations: A single case study of an 89 y/o male with a history of Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy is presented. Read More

Cornea 2018 Dec;37(12):1479-1483

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine UPMC Eye Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

Purpose: To compare the visual outcomes and associated morbidity of patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy who were treated with either Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) or descemetorhexis without endothelial keratoplasty (DWEK).

Methods: This is a retrospective comparative cohort study of 27 eyes with mild to moderate Fuchs dystrophy (with corneal guttae/edema limited to the central cornea with relatively clear periphery) that were treated at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2015 to 2017 with either DMEK (n = 15) or DWEK (n = 12). Descemetorhexis was performed by removing the central 4 mm of diseased Descemet membrane at the end of phacoemulsification for cataract surgery. Read More

Cornea 2018 Dec;37(12):1484-1489

Ophthalmology Department, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Purpose: High intraocular pressure (IOP) is common in association with intracameral air and gas tamponade after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK); yet its influence on endothelial cell survival is unknown. Our aim was to determine the effect of high IOP measured 2 hours after DMEK on 1-month endothelial cell density (ECD). The influence of other potentially relevant factors was also investigated. Read More

Ophthalmologe 2018 Sep 13. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Uniklinik Köln, Kerpener Straße 62, 50937, Köln, Deutschland.

Am J Ophthalmol 2019 Jan 7;197:1-6. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Eye Center, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Purpose: It is unclear which patients unexpectedly have a hyperopic refractive outcome after combined Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty and cataract surgery (triple DMEK). We assessed how corneal shape predicts hyperopia after triple DMEK.

Design: Retrospective cohort study. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 6;196:136-144. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Ocular Surface Imaging Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Cornea & Refractive Surgery Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center/Tufts Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: To evaluate corneal nerve and immune cell alterations in Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) by laser in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) as correlated to corneal sensation and endothelial cell loss.

Design: Prospective, cross-sectional, controlled study.

Methods: Thirty-three eyes with FECD were compared to 13 eyes with PBK and 17 normal age-matched control eyes at a tertiary referral center. Read More

Cornea 2018 Nov;37(11):1347-1350

Eye Center, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.

Purpose: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) seems to be the most promising technique for treating endothelium-related disorders of the cornea. However, graft detachment is a frequent complication. It often can be treated by rebubbling procedures. Read More

Ophthalmology 2018 Aug 25. Epub 2018 Aug 25.

Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Electronic address:

Purpose: To determine if Scheimpflug tomography can identify subclinical corneal edema in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), and to recommend a new classification of FECD for clinical practice and research.

Design: Cross-sectional study with follow-up of outcomes.

Participants: Ninety-three eyes from 57 subjects with a range of severity of FECD and 74 eyes from 40 subjects with normal corneas. Read More

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018 Aug;59(10):4258-4267

Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Purpose: SLC4A11 is a plasma membrane protein of corneal endothelial cells. Some mutations of the SLC4A11 gene result in SLC4A11 protein misfolding and failure to mature to the plasma membrane. This gives rise to some cases of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED). Read More

Open Ophthalmol J 2018 23;12:154-163. Epub 2018 Jul 23.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences,Doshisha University,Kyotanabe,Japan.

Background: Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is a progressive disease that affects the corneal endothelium in both eyes. Recent studies have identified a novel genetic basis for FECD, and basic research findings have provided evidence for its underlying pathophysiology. Since its first description by Ernst Fuchs in 1910, the only therapeutic choice has been corneal transplantation using donor corneas. Read More

Open Ophthalmol J 2018 23;12:134-142. Epub 2018 Jul 23.

Cornea Department, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata - 700120, India.

Background: Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) is now becoming the popular form of endothelial keratoplasty using only donor DM with healthy endothelium as true component lamellar corneal surgery.

Objective: To analyze the results of visual outcomes, endothelial cell loss and complications of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty in first consecutive 100 Indian eyes.

Methods: 100 eyes of 95 consecutive patients with endothelial dysfunctions of different etiologies scheduled for DMEK, were included in this study. Read More

Clin Ophthalmol 2018 6;12:1367-1371. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Division of Cornea, Cataract, & External Diseases, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,

Purpose: Amantadine use has been temporally associated with bilateral corneal edema in a series of cases; however, its pathophysiological mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. We sought to rule out subclinical Fuchs dystrophy as a contributor, characterize its pattern of corneal edema, and describe the long-term outcome of concurrent topical steroids while resuming amantadine.

Patient And Methods: After a 44-year-old woman presented with new acute onset bilateral corneal edema, amantadine was discontinued, with clinical improvement. Read More

Clin Ophthalmol 2018 6;12:1359-1365. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan,

Purpose: To report a 10-year review of endothelial keratoplasty (EK) procedures, Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), and underlying diseases at a tertiary referral hospital in Japan.

Study Design: A single-center, retrospective case series.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all medical records of bullous keratopathy (BK) surgically treated by EK (DSAEK/DMEK) at Kanazawa University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2016. Read More

Ophthalmology 2018 Dec 10;125(12):1854-1861. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Electronic address:

Purpose: Measuring patient-reported visual disability in Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) may be helpful in determining when to intervene and for understanding the outcomes of intervention. In this study, we aimed to validate a new patient-reported visual disability questionnaire, the Visual Function and Corneal Health Status (V-FUCHS) instrument, in FECD before and after endothelial keratoplasty (EK).

Design: Cross-sectional study with instrument readministration at 6 weeks. Read More

Ophthalmology 2018 Nov 9;125(11):1700-1709. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Eye Institute, Cleveland, Ohio. Electronic address:

Purpose: To associate donor, recipient, and operative factors with graft success 3 years after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in the Cornea Preservation Time Study (CPTS).

Design: Cohort study within a multicenter, double-masked, randomized clinical trial.

Participants: One thousand ninety individuals (1330 study eyes) with a median age of 70 years undergoing DSAEK for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (94% of eyes) or pseudophakic or aphakic corneal edema (PACE; 6% of eyes). Read More

Am J Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 8;196:173-180. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, National University Health System, Singapore. Electronic address:

Purpose: To compare the outcome in patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) who underwent standard phacoemulsification vs femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) in the treatment of visually significant cataracts.

Design: Retrospective, comparative, interventional case series.

Methods: Patient or Study Population: Between April 2013 and December 2016, 140 FED eyes with cataracts of all densities were included. Read More

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018 Aug;59(10):4065-4070

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States.

Purpose: Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) caused by the CTG triplet repeat expansion in the TCF4 gene (CTG18.1 locus) is the most common repeat expansion disorder. Intergenerational instability of expanded repeats and clinical anticipation are hallmarks of other repeat expansion disorders. Read More

J Ophthalmic Vis Res 2018 Jul-Sep;13(3):339-343

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy is a hereditary and progressive vision-threatening disease with a high prevalence in our adult population. In the past two decades, endothelial transplantation has dramatically changed the way we treat these patients. Back then, our limited surgical techniques often resulted in less than ideal outcomes. Read More

J Ophthalmol 2018 18;2018:9132083. Epub 2018 Jul 18.

First Department of Ophthalmology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Introduction: During the past decade, novel techniques of corneal transplantation allowing faster and better restoration of vision have emerged. The present cohort study describes a shift of indications and techniques that has occurred in the field of corneal transplantation over a 17-year period in Greece.

Methods: All patients undergoing keratoplasty between January 1999 and December 2015 at an academic tertiary referral center in Athens, Greece, were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2018 Nov 2;256(11):2135-2142. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center UKS, Homburg/Saar, Germany.

Purpose: To assess the morphological and functional outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) performed with pre-stripped tissue preserved in organ culture medium containing dextran compared to tissue preserved in dextran-free medium.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the clinical records of 103 patients who underwent DMEK surgery with pre-stripped tissue in our department between June 2015 and September 2016. The endothelium-Descemet membrane layer was preserved in organ culture medium for a maximum of 48 h for all patients. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2018 Sep 21;11:13-16. Epub 2018 Apr 21.

Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Purpose: To describe a novel surgical technique to rescue a partially expulsed DMEK graft after insertion.

Observations: We present a case of a 66-year-old woman with visually significant Fuchs endothelial dystrophy who underwent a DMEK surgery complicated by partial expulsion of the DMEK graft during insertion. To rescue the graft, MicroSurgical Technology (MST) forceps were inserted through a nasal paracentesis to grasp the DMEK graft and redirect it back into the anterior chamber. Read More

Int Ophthalmol 2018 Jul 25. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

Centro Oftalmológico Virgilio Galvis, Centro Medico Ardila Lulle, Torre A, Piso 3, Modulo 7, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia.

Purpose: To describe the indications and techniques of corneal grafting in a tertiary institution in a middle-sized city in Colombia.

Methods: A retrospective review of surgical reports and medical records of patients undergoing keratoplasty from January 2012 to December of 2016.

Results: A total of 346 eyes from 316 patients were included. Read More

J Cataract Refract Surg 2018 Jun 4;44(6):738-744. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

From the Cincinnati Eye Institute (Cheung, Chachare, Eslani, Nordlund) and the University of Cincinnati (Cheung, Eslani, Schneider, Nordlund), Cincinnati, Ohio; Virginia Eye Consultants (Cheung), Norfolk, Virginia, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: To describe the tomographic changes in eyes with a hyperopic shift after triple Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Setting: Private cornea practice, Blue Ash, Ohio, USA.

Design: Retrospective case series. Read More

Cornea 2018 Oct;37(10):1226-1231

Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, OH.

Purpose: To compare the visual outcomes and complications between nanothin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (NT-DSAEK) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods: A prospective comparative case series of 28 consecutive cases of NT-DSAEK (less than or equal to 50 μm) and DMEK was undertaken. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of Fuchs dystrophy, presence of pseudophakia, or planned combined cataract surgery/endothelial keratoplasty, with a minimum of 6-month follow-up. Read More