Analysis of Corneal Scheimpflug Densitometry and Ocular Wavefront Aberrations Post Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE

To assess the role of corneal densitometry and wavefront aberrations post Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and their correlation with visual acuity.

METHODS

Twenty-seven eyes of 25 patients with nonresolving corneal edema for more than 3 months as a result of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, or secondary endothelial dysfunction were enrolled in a prospective interventional study and underwent DSAEK. Postoperative evaluation for corneal aberrations, including Higher order aberrations (HOAs) and corneal densitometry (CD), was performed using anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (Avanti RTvue XR; Optovue) and Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam, Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) at 6 months. A correlation analysis of corneal aberrations, including HOAs and CD, with postoperative best-corrected visual acuity at 6 months was performed.

RESULTS

Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from 1.67±0.53 log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) to 0.2±0.22 logMAR post DSAEK at 6 months (P≤0.0001). At 6 months, mean root-mean-square (RMS) total corneal aberrations (includes HOA and low-order aberration [LOA]), RMS total HOA, and RMS LOA of the central 6-mm zone were 4.99±2.64, 1.80±0.9, and 4.55±2.64, respectively. The mean corneal densitometry from anterior, central, and posterior zones were 39.12±12.77, 23.9±7.2, and 13.54±2.04 gray scale units, respectively. Total anterior aberrations (r=0.051; P=0.006), anterior LOA (r=0.049; P=0.009), total corneal aberrations (r=0.051; P=0.001), total HOAs (r=0.095; P=0.057) and LOAs (r=0.050; P=0.002), and total CD from 0 to 2 mm (r=0.010; P=0.038) and 2 to 6 mm (r=0.014; P=0.018) showed a significant inverse correlation with postoperative BCVA.

CONCLUSION

There was an inverse relationship between post DSAEK BCVA and total corneal HOAs and full-thickness densitometry at 6 months. Scheimpflug imaging with added tools for corneal aberration and densitometry analysis gives further insight into the suboptimal vision achieved despite transparent corneas post DSAEK.