Early changes in host and donor lenticule thickness after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty

PURPOSE: To analyze the early changes in host and donor lenticule thickness after Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK). METHODS: DSEK was performed on 32 eyes of 31 patients. Pre- and post- operative slit lamp examination and anterior segment Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) was done on day-1, day-7, 1 month, and 3 months. RESULTS: There were significant changes in host, lenticule, and total corneal thicknesses between day-1 and day-7, and day-7 and 1 month. There were significant changes in host thickness and total corneal thickness between 1 month and 3 months. Thickness changes were significant between day-1 and day-7, and 1 month and 3 months for thick and thin host, respectively, whereas these changes were observed both for thick and thin host between day-7 and 1 month. Similarly, significant changes were observed between day-7 and 1 month, and day-7 and 1 month in thin lenticule whereas in case of thick lenticule, it was observed till the 3 months follow-up period. There was a significant improvement in visual acuity till the 3 months follow-up period. No significant correlation was observed between visual acuity and host and lenticule thickness. CONCLUSION: The thicknesses of host and lenticule decrease continuously. Lenticule thickness stabilizes before host. Thinner cornea stabilizes earlier compared to thicker cornea.