Chord Mu (µ) and Chord Alpha (α) Length Changes in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy before and after Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) Surgery

Abstract

This paper will evaluate chord mu and alpha length in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and its changes following Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Patients with FECD that underwent DMEK surgery were included in this retrospective study. Scheimpflug Tomography was carried out in order to calculate chord mu and chord alpha lengths prior to surgery and at 3 and 12 months postoperative. This study included 27 eyes from 27 patients. Significant changes in chord mu were observed within the first three months (from 0.47 ± 0.32 to 0.29 ± 0.21 mm, p < 0.01) and remained stable 12 months postoperative (0.30 ± 0.21 mm, p > 0.05). However, chord alpha remained stable throughout the 12 months post surgery (from 0.53 ± 0.19 to 0.49 ± 0.14 mm, p > 0.05). In addition to the pupillary center distance from the corneal apex (from 0.35 ± 0.25 to 0.34 ± 0.20 mm, p > 0.05) also remain stable. In FECD patients undergoing DMEK surgery, chord mu length decreased, and chord alpha length remained stable after 12 months of follow-up.