To evaluate the effects of donor graft thickness on postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refractive outcomes, endothelial cell density (ECD) and function, intraocular pressure (IOP), and postoperative complications after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK).

This retrospective, interventional case series enrolled 77 eyes of 64 patients who underwent DSAEK with or without simultaneous cataract surgery. Clinical outcomes, including BSCVA, spherical equivalent refraction, keratometric astigmatism, IOP, and ECD were assessed at the final follow-up examination. Univariate analyses were used to investigate the effects of postoperative donor graft thickness on clinical outcomes and complications.

The mean patient age was 62.3±15.6 years old, and the patients were followed for 26.2±20.9 months postoperatively. The mean donor age was 30.4±11.2 years old, and the mean preoperative ECD was 3127.4±315.1 cells/mm2, which decreased to 1788.6±716.5 cells/mm2 postoperatively (P<0.001). The mean postoperative central graft thickness was 102.4±31.6 µm. In the univariate analysis, postoperative central graft thickness was significantly associated with postoperative IOP (r=0.42, P=0.005), central recipient thickness (r=-0.46, P=0.002), and ECD (r=0.36, P=0.016). No significant association was found for central graft thickness with postoperative BSCVA (P=0.70), spherical equivalent refraction (P=0.33), keratometric astigmatism (P=0.27), graft detachment (P=0.16), graft decentration (P=0.17), high IOP (P=0.53), or endothelial rejection (P=0.88).

This study failed to demonstrate any significant correlation between graft thickness and BSCVA. Attempting to minimize graft thickness might not have the desired outcome with regard to endothelial cell density and function. Increased graft thickness could negatively impact the accuracy of IOP measurements after DSAEK.