To determine the correlations between donor endothelial lenticule thickness and visual prognosis in Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK).

The present study included 22 patients (22 eyes), who underwent DSAEK surgery in our clinic due to endothelial decompensation. BCVA (log MAR) was compared at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively between the thin lenticule group and thick lenticule group (≥130 µm).

The BCVA (log MAR) at 1 month postoperatively was 0.46 ± 0.22 in the thin lenticule group, and 0.71 ± 0.26 in the thick lenticule group, and significant statistical correlations between donor lenticule thickness and visual acuity were observed ( p = 0.025). However, no significant correlations were observed at 3 months ( p = 0.129) and 6 months ( p = 0.141) postoperatively.

The thin donor lenticule (<130 µm) can result in better visual acuity at 1 month postoperatively than the thick donor lenticule (≥130 µm), however, there is no difference in visual acuity between the 2 groups at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.