Clinical results of the Neusidl Corneal Inserter(®), a new donor inserter for Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, for small Asian eyes

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging. 2012 Jul 1;43(4):311-8. doi: 10.3928/15428877-20120426-04. Epub 2012 May 3.

Abstract

Background and objective: To present the clinical outcomes of the Neusidl Corneal Inserter (NCI) (Fischer Surgical, Imperial, MO), a new donor inserter for Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK).

Patients and methods: Six eyes of 6 Japanese patients (mean age = 74.0 years) with endothelial dysfunction were enrolled in this prospective, non-comparative study. All patients had a small cornea of 9.0 mm or less in diameter. A donor was inserted into the eye using NCI. Intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative donor endothelial cell densities (ECD), and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were evaluated.

Results: Donor loading onto NCI was successful in all cases. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted. All cases reached more than 20/63 BCVA within 12 months. Mean ECD was 2,441 cells/mm(2) (mean loss = 22.1%) at 6 months and 2,159 cells/mm(2) (mean loss = 31.0%) at 12 months.

Conclusion: Graft insertion with NCI is safe in DSAEK with low endothelial cell loss.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anterior Chamber / anatomy & histology*
  • Anterior Chamber / surgery
  • Asian People*
  • Corneal Diseases / surgery*
  • Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / prevention & control
  • Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty / instrumentation*
  • Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty / methods
  • Endothelium, Corneal / transplantation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tissue Donors
  • Visual Acuity / physiology