A Study of Corneal Biomechanics in Patients following DSAEK Surgery Compared with Healthy Eyes

Purpose: To evaluate the corneal biomechanical properties following descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) surgery, compared to healthy eyes using Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (Corvis ST, Oculus). Methods: This study included 22 eyes after DSAEK surgery and 20 healthy eyes. Thirty-three dynamic corneal response parameters provided by Corvis ST were measured in both groups. Results: The mean age of patients in DSAEK and control groups were 65.59±10.27 and 54.40±3.77 years old, respectively. Mean follow-up time in DSAEK group was 2.19±1.85 years. The following parameters were significantly higher in DSAEK eyes than in the healthy eyes: highest concavity deformation amplitude (P=0.006), A1 deflection length (P=0.005), highest concavity deflection amplitude (P=0.036), maximum inverse radius(P=0.006), deformation amplitude ratio (2 mm) (P=0.048), integrated radius (P=0.003), stiffness parameter (SPA1) (P=0.014) and Corvis biomechanical index (CBI) (P=0.046). Radius (P=0.001) and A1 time (P=0.019) variables were significantly lower after DSAEK compared to healthy eyes. Conclusion: It was expected that rigidity of the cornea would improve with increasing eye thickness after DSAEK surgery, but changes in biomechanical parameters showed that corneal biomechanics has decreased