Preoperative edema severity affects outcomes after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: a cohort study

CONCLUSIONS: DMEK for FECD yielded better visual acuity after 4 months when performed in the early stage of FECD compared to a later stage with clinical edema. This may be attributable to persistent corneal fibrosis after DMEK in eyes with preoperative clinically evident corneal edema, as suggested by higher postoperative corneal density in eyes with clinical edema. Consequently, the findings advocate for the consideration of earlier DMEK in FECD patients to achieve better surgical …