Descemet stripping only combined with cataract surgery and extended-depth-of-focus intraocular lens implantation: a surgical strategy and exploratory clinical evidence.
Juan J Prados-Carmona, Marta Villalba-González, Álvaro Sánchez-Ventosa et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
Three patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, preserved peripheral endothelium, and visually significant cataract underwent combined Descemet stripping only, phacoemulsification, and implantation of a Vivity extended-depth-of-focus intraocular lens in four eyes. The procedures were completed without significant complications. Transient corneal edema resolved within weeks, with progressive visual recovery and endothelial repopulation on specular microscopy. At follow-up ranging from 2 to 4 years, tomography showed no clinically relevant progressive structural deterioration. Final best-corrected visual acuity was ≤ 0.15 LogMAR in all but one eye, in which posterior capsule opacification affected vision.
What made this case unusual
The report combines Descemet stripping only with cataract surgery and an extended-depth-of-focus lens, aiming to address corneal recovery and a broader range of functional vision in carefully selected patients with Fuchs dystrophy.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
This approach was reported in patients with preserved peripheral endothelium and favorable ocular characteristics; careful patient selection is central to considering the combined procedure.
Why it matters
The observations suggest a possible refractive option for selected patients with central Fuchs dystrophy and cataract, but the authors note that larger studies are needed to validate the approach.