Is There a Cutoff in Favor of Penetrating Keratoplasty Rather than Endothelial Keratoplasty for Long-Standing Endothelial Decompensation?

Abstract

Endothelial keratoplasty (EK) has evolved to become the standard of care over traditional penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for treating isolated corneal endothelial disease. EK provides numerous advantages including faster, more reliable visual rehabilitation, along with a lower allograft rejection rate. There are some situations, however, in which EK may not necessarily be the best option, and PK should at least be considered. In such situations, a careful weighing and balancing needs to be done in conjunction with the patient.

Zusammenfassung

Die endotheliale Keratoplastik (EK) hat sich zum Therapiestandard entwickelt und wird bei der Behandlung der isolierten endothelialen Erkrankung der Hornhaut der herkömmlichen penetrierenden Keratoplastik (PK) vorgezogen. Die EK bietet zahlreiche Vorteile, darunter eine schnellere und zuverlässigere visuelle Rehabilitation sowie eine geringere Abstoßungsrate des Allotransplantats. Es gibt aber einige Situationen, in denen die EK nicht unbedingt die bessere Option darstellt und eine PK wenigstens in Betracht gezogen werden sollte. In solchen Situationen müssen die Vor- und Nachteile zusammen mit dem Patienten sorgfältig abgewogen werden.

Key words

endothelial keratoplasty - penetrating keratoplasty - graft rejection

Schlüsselwörter

endotheliale Keratoplastik - penetrierende Keratoplastik - Transplantatabstoßung

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