Descemet\'s Stripping Only (DSO) is a surgical technique that utilizes the peripheral corneal endothelial cell (CEnC) migration for wound closure. Ripasudil, a Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, has shown potential in DSO treatment; however, its mechanism in promoting CEnC migration remains unclear. We observed that ripasudil-treated immortalized normal and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) cells exhibited significantly enhanced migration and wound healing, particularly effective in FECD cells. Ripasudil upregulated mRNA expression of Snail Family Transcriptional Repressor (SNAI1/2) and Vimentin (VIM) while decreasing Cadherin (CDH1), indicating endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activation. Ripasudil activated Rac1, driving the actin-related protein complex (ARPC2) to the leading edge, facilitating enhanced migration. Ex vivo studies on cadaveric and FECD Descemet\'s membrane (DM) showed increased migration and proliferation of CEnCs after ripasudil treatment. An ex vivo DSO model demonstrated enhanced migration from the DM to the stroma with ripasudil. Coating small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) tissues with an FNC coating mix and treating the cells in conjunction with ripasudil further improved migration and resulted in a monolayer formation, as detected by the ZO-1 junctional marker, thereby leading to the reduction in EMT. In conclusion, ripasudil effectively enhanced cellular migration, particularly in a novel ex vivo DSO model, when the stromal microenvironment was modulated. This suggests ripasudil as a promising adjuvant for DSO treatment, highlighting its potential clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: To compare the difference in rebubbling rates between patients undergoing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with endothelium-in using a standard IOL cartridge and those with endothelium-out DMEK utilizing a no-touch technique with borosilicate glass cartridge transplantation.
METHODS: This retrospective study included all eyes that underwent preloaded endothelium-in or endothelium-out DMEK transplantation from June 2019 to December 2023 at the Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria. All DMEKs were harvested, prepared and preloaded at the European Eye Bank of Venice, Italy. DMEK surgeries were done by one experienced surgeon and the procedure was completed by air tamponade of the anterior chamber.
RESULTS: Overall, 32 eyes each of 31 endothelium-out patients and of 29 endothelium-in patients were included. 32 preloaded endothelium-in procedures were followed by 32 preloaded endothelium-out procedures. Rebubbling rate for endothelium-in was 15/32 (47%) and for endothelium-out was 7/25 (28%) (p = 0.035, Pearson\'s chi-squared test). Donor age was the most important variable for rebubbling in a random forest algorithm model (ROC: 0.69).
CONCLUSIONS: Rebubbling rate in endothelium-out DMEK was less than two-thirds compared to endothelium-in DMEK favoring no-touch endothelium-out DMEK as the preferred technique of DMEK transplantation.

To evaluate the clinical implications of the different trypan blue dyeing techniques used during liquid bubble (LBT) and manual peel (MPT) DMEK lenticule preparation techniques. This study retrospectively compared the degree to which endothelial cells are preserved using selective Descemet Membrane (DM) staining (LBT) versus bath-staining (MPT) when performed by a single surgeon, sourced from a single eye bank. Endothelial cell density measured after the 3-month follow-up was 1805 and 1916 cells/mm2 respectively, differing significantly (p = 0.012). A double-scroll graft formation was found and maintained until implantation in 94% of preparations with bath staining and 50% of preparations using selective DM staining. Preoperative visual acuity was comparable between preparation techniques at 0.4 logMAR as well as postoperatively, at an average of 0.1 logMAR. Reducing chemical stress on the endothelium by avoiding any contact with trypan blue allows for a significantly higher degree of cell preservation. However, achieving the often-desired double-scroll graft formation was possible less frequently. It remains unclear which factors define the differences graft scrolling behavior observed between LBT and MPT.

OBJECTIVE: While effective for treating endothelial dysfunction, keratoplasty has shortcomings including limited access to donor tissue for much of the world. Thus, alternative strategies are under development. This review explores the main advancements achieved in this field during 2022-2023.
RESULTS: Recent publications further support the validity of intracameral cultivated allogeneic endothelial cell injection and Descemet stripping only, while emphasizing the benefits of adjunctive Rho-associated kinase inhibitor (ROCKi) therapy. New donor-independent artificial implants, such as EndoArt, show favorable results. Multiple pharmacologic agents, especially ROCKi, show promise as monotherapies, yet none are currently approved for human treatment. Multiple regenerative and genetic therapies are being investigated but all are still in preclinical stages.
CONCLUSIONS: A plethora of innovative alternatives to keratoplasty for endothelial disease is in development. Among these, surgical methods are still the mainstay of treatment and closest to clinical application, though further studies to establish their benefits over keratoplasty are needed. Albeit promising, pharmacologic, regenerative, and genetic approaches require validation and are farther from clinical application.

UNASSIGNED: We present an alternative surgical procedure including simultaneous deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in a case with endothelial failure and stromal scarring. A 62-year-old woman presented with vision loss caused by pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. While waiting for a corneal transplant, the patient developed infectious keratitis, which was treated with medication. Although the keratitis healed, it left a scar. To improve the patient\'s vision, a corneal transplant surgery that included simultaneous DALK and DMEK was performed. Postoperatively, the corneal graft was clear, and the Descemet membrane was well attached. However, there was an interface haze because of residual stromal tissue. The patient\'s best-corrected visual acuity improved from hand motion to 0.2 (decimal). This combined procedure allows for lamellar keratoplasty in cases with coexistence of corneal endothelial and stromal involvement.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the outcome of corneal grafts, both low risk and high risk, after successfully reversed immunological rejection.
METHODS: Datasets on reversed rejection episodes in penetrating and endothelial keratoplasties between 2014 and 2019 (n=876) were extracted from the Adverse Immune Signatures and their Prevention in Corneal Transplantation database, which contains the prospectively and consecutively collected corneal transplants from five European centres. Stratified by the preoperatively determined risk status for immunological rejection, the outcome parameters analysed included visual acuity, intraocular pressure, endothelial cell density and central corneal thickness before and after reversed rejection episodes.
RESULTS: Fourty-seven (52%) out of a total of 91 identified rejection episodes were successfully reversed and were available for analysis (23 penetrating and 24 endothelial keratoplasties). No statistically significant change was found for any of the parameters studied between the values before and the values 3 months after the rejection episode, irrespective of the preoperative risk status.
CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of corneal grafts that survive immunological rejection may be clinically indistinguishable from the state before immunological rejection, irrespective of graft type and risk status. These findings support clinicians by providing information on prognosis after reversed rejection episodes and by giving patients realistic expectations regarding the outcome.

Selective keratoplasty involves replacing the affected layers of the cornea with similar donor tissue. In case of pathological changes in the middle and posterior stroma, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is performed. Chronic corneal edema caused by endothelial dysfunction is an indication for endothelial keratoplasty - Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) or Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK). Compared to penetrating keratoplasty (PK), these operations are characterized by a low risk of damage to intraocular structures and a relatively short rehabilitation period. Complications of selective keratoplasty include the formation of a false chamber between the lamellar graft and the recipient\'s cornea, ocular hypertension during anterior chamber air tamponade. Persistent epithelial defect can be a sign of primary graft failure in DALK, DSAEK and DMEK. Selective keratoplasty is characterized by a lower incidence of immune rejection than PK. In some cases, DALK can be complicated by corneal changes related to suture fixation of the graft. Long-term postoperative use of topical glucocorticoids can cause ocular hypertension and cataracts.
Селективная кератопластика включает в себя замещение пораженных слоев роговицы аналогичной тканью донора. При патологических изменениях средних и задних отделов стромы выполняют глубокую переднюю послойную кератопластику (ГППК). Хронический отек роговицы, вызванный дисфункцией эндотелиального слоя, является показанием к проведению эндотелиальной кератопластики — трансплантации десцеметовой мембраны (ТДМ) или задней автоматизированной кератопластики (ЗАПК). По сравнению со сквозной кератопластикой (СКП) такие операции характеризуются низким риском повреждения интраокулярных структур и относительно коротким реабилитационным периодом. К осложнениям селективной кератопластики относят формирование ложной камеры между послойным трансплантатом и роговицей реципиента и офтальмогипертензию на этапе пневмотампонады передней камеры. Персистирующий эпителиальный дефект может быть признаком первичной несостоятельности трансплантата при ГППК, ЗАПК и ТДМ. Селективная кератопластика характеризуется более низкой частотой развития реакции иммунного отторжения трансплантата, чем СКП. При ГППК возможны изменения роговицы, обусловленные шовной фиксацией трансплантата. Длительное применение глюкокортикостероидов (в инстилляционной форме) после операции может быть причиной офтальмогипертензии и катаракты.

Graft detachment is the most common complication after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). To assess the amount of graft detachment, precision is limited when using slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Detachment of DMEK grafts can be assessed automatically on anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS OCT) images and allows visualization of the area and volume of detachment using 3D maps. This article provides an overview of its applications such as accurately assessing the course of natural graft attachment, identification of potential risk factors for detachment and evaluation of the long-term effect of graft detachment. The 3D map of DMEK detachment may support researchers and clinicians in precise quantification of the area and volume of graft detachment even in large data sets, and the intuitive, fast and reliable evaluation.
Die häufigste Komplikation nach Descemet-Membran-Endothel-Keratoplastik (DMEK) ist die Transplantatabhebung. Ausmaß und Vergleich der Abhebung sind mittels Spaltlampenmikroskopie jedoch nur eingeschränkt beurteilbar. Eine präzise Quantifizierung und Möglichkeit zur longitudinalen Beurteilung bietet eine 3-D-Höhenkarte mittels Segmentierung und Zusammenführung der VAA-OCT-Aufnahmen durch ein neuronales Netzwerk. Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, einen Überblick über die neu etablierte 3-D-Kartierung der DMEK-Abhebungsfläche und ihre bisherigen Anwendungsgebiete zu geben. Die 3-D-Kartierung konnte bereits genutzt werden, um den Verlauf der natürlichen Transplantatanlage, den Einfluss möglicher Risikofaktoren wie der postoperativen Lagerung oder den Langzeiteffekt der Transplantatabhebung zu beurteilen. Die Deep-Learning-basierte Abhebungskarte zeichnet sich durch ihre Genauigkeit, die standardisierte Bestimmung von Abhebungsfläche und -volumen auch bei größeren Datensätzen, und die intuitive, schnelle und verlässliche Auswertbarkeit aus.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the ratio between the graft and host corneal size (RGH) on postoperative complications, such as immune reactions, re-bubbling rate and endothelial cell loss (ECL) after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).
METHODS: Retrospectively, 457 patient eyes were included which had undergone surgery between 2016 and 2019 in the Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg/Saar using DMEK or triple DMEK, diagnosed as Fuchs\' endothelial dystrophy (n = 431), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (n = 9) and others (n = 17). The follow-up period extended until the end of 2020. Main outcome measures included immune reaction (IR), re-bubbling rate and the postoperative endothelial cell loss (ECL) at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months and whether these measures depended on the RGH.
RESULTS: The RGH in this study ranged from 0.35 to 0.62 (0.46 ± 0.04). There were 33 (7.2%) postoperative IRs (DMEK n = 25; triple DMEK n = 8). The average RGH without IR (0.46 ± 0.04) was significantly (p = 0.038) smaller than in the group with IR (0.47 ± 0.05). Re-bubbling was necessary in 159 of 457 (34.8%) patient eyes. The RGH in patient eyes with re-bubbling (0.47 ± 0.04) was significantly (p = 0.014) higher than that in eyes without re-bubbling (0.45 ± 0.04). The mean preoperative endothelial cell count (ECD) was 2603 ± 251 cells/mm2 (min: 2161, max: 3500 cells/mm2). It was shown that a larger RGH had no positive influence on endothelial cell loss (r = 0.001; p = 0.974).
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a larger graft diameter compared to host corneal size is associated with an increased rate of immune reactions and a higher re-bubbling rate after DMEK. Otherwise, a larger RGH had no positive influence on endothelial cell loss after DMEK. Accordingly, the graft size for DMEK should not be unnecessarily large, especially in eyes with Fuchs\' endothelial dystrophy.
UNASSIGNED: HINTERGRUND: Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss des Verhältnisses von Transplantatgröße zu Hornhautgröße auf postoperative Komplikationen (endotheliale Immunreaktion [IR], Re-Bubbling-Rate und Endothelzellverlust [ECL]) nach Descemet-Membrane-Endothelial-Keratoplastik (DMEK) zu untersuchen.
UNASSIGNED: Retrospektiv eingeschlossen wurden 457 Patientenaugen mit den Diagnosen Fuchs-Endotheldystrophie (n = 431), pseudophake bullöse Keratopathie (n = 9) und andere Diagnosen (n = 17), welche zwischen 2016 und 2019 in der Klinik für Augenheilkunde am Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes (UKS) in Homburg/Saar mittels DMEK (n = 270) bzw. Triple-DMEK (n = 187) operiert wurden. Der Nachbeobachtungszeitraum erstreckte sich bis Ende 2020. Die untersuchten Zielgrößen waren: Auftreten einer endothelialen IR, eines Re-Bubblings und die Größe des postoperativen ECL (6 Wochen, 6 Monate, 1 Jahr) in Abhängigkeit des Verhältnisses von Transplantat- zu Hornhautgröße (VTH).
UNASSIGNED: Das VTH in dieser Studie schwankte von 0,35 bis 0,62 (0,46 ± 0,04). Es traten 33 (7,2 %) postoperative IR auf (DMEK n = 25; Triple-DMEK n = 8). Das durchschnittliche VTH war ohne IR (0,46 ± 0,04) signifikant (p = 0,038) kleiner als in der Gruppe mit IR (0,47 ± 0,05). Ein Re-Bubbling war bei 159 von 457 Patientenaugen nötig (34,8 %). Das VTH der Augen mit Re-Bubbling (0,47 ± 0,04) war signifikant (p = 0,014) größer als das VTH der Augen ohne Re-Bubbling (0,45 ± 0,04). Die durchschnittliche präoperative Endothelzellzahl (ECD) betrug 2603 ± 251 Zellen/mm2 (Min: 2161, Max: 3500 Zellen/mm2). Ein größerer VTH hatte keinen positiven Einfluss auf den Endothelzellverlust (r = 0,001; p = 0,974).
UNASSIGNED: Unsere Ergebnisse deuten an, dass ein größerer Transplantatdurchmesser im Vergleich zu Hornhautgröße mit einer erhöhten Rate von IR und Re-Bubblings nach DMEK einhergeht. Dagegen hatte das VTH keinen Einfluss auf den Endothelzellverlust nach DMEK. Aus diesem Grund sollte der Transplantatdurchmesser für DMEK gerade bei der Fuchs-Dystrophie nicht unnötig groß gewählt werden.

暂无摘要。