DOI: 10.1177/11206721261484643 ISSN: 1120-6721

Cystoid macular edema after endothelial keratoplasty in eyes With prior vitrectomy versus eyes without prior vitrectomy

Ibrahim Qozat, Pranav Vasu, Isabella V. Wagner, P. Connor Lentz, Yazan Abubaker, Emily Dorairaj, Abhimanyu Ahuja, Darby D. Miller, Michael W. Stewart, Syril Dorairaj

Purpose

To determine the incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME) within the first 6 months after endothelial keratoplasty (EK) in eyes that had previously undergone vitrectomy versus those without prior vitrectomy.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis of the TriNetX database was performed by querying all patients who underwent EK (Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty or Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty) with ≥ 6 months of follow-up between January 1, 2004, and August 30, 2024. Patients with a previous history of diabetic macular edema, uveitis, or retinal vascular occlusion were excluded. Cohorts were stratified based on a history of prior vitrectomy. Propensity score matching (PSM) between cohorts was conducted for age at index, sex, race, ethnicity, and diagnosis of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy. The outcome assessed was the incidence of postoperative CME within 6 months after EK in both groups. Odds ratios were calculated between cohorts.

Results

The final analysis included 1044 patients, divided into those with (n = 522) and without (n = 522) prior vitrectomy before EK. Patients who had undergone vitrectomy prior to EK were found to develop postoperative CME within 6 months at a significantly higher rate (32 of 522) compared to those who had not undergone vitrectomy (17 of 522) (P = 0.0282; OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.063–3.539).

Conclusion

Prior vitrectomy appears to be associated with a greater incidence of postoperative CME after EK.