Outcomes of corneal transplantation in Europe: report by the European Cornea and Cell Transplantation Registry

• Published in: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery Vol. 47; no. 6; pp. 780 - 785
• Main Authors: Dunker, Suryan L, Armitage, W John, Armitage, Margareta, Brocato, Lucia, Figueiredo, Francisco C, Heemskerk, Martin B A, Hjortdal, Jesper, Jones, Gary L A, Konijn, Cynthia, Nuijts, Rudy M M A, Lundström, Mats, Dickman, Mor M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Clinical Medicine; Klinisk medicin; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Oftalmologi; Ophthalmology
• ISSN: 0886-3350; 1873-4502; 1873-4502
• DOI: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000000520

To analyze real-world graft survival and visual acuity outcomes of corneal transplantation in Europe. Corneal clinics in 10 European Union member states, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Multinational registry study. All corneal transplant procedures registered in the European Cornea and Cell Transplantation Registry (ECCTR) were identified. Graft survival of primary corneal transplants were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves with log-rank test and Cox regression. Corrected distance visual acuities (CDVAs) are reported at baseline and 2 years postoperatively using the Lundström distribution matrix. A total of 12 913 corneal transplants were identified. Overall, 32-year graft survival of corneal transplants was high (89%) but differed between indications, ranging from 98% in keratoconus and 80% for trauma. Overall, CDVA improved postoperatively, but the risk for losing vision ranged from 7% (baseline vision ≤0.1 Snellen) to 58% (baseline vision ≥1.0 Snellen). This report provides a comprehensive overview of graft survival and visual outcomes of corneal transplantation in Europe. In addition, it provides real-world estimates of outcomes for a variety of indications and surgical techniques to support benchmarking and demonstrates the relationship between baseline and postoperative vision.