Purpose: To prospectively assess the impact of a retained open-loop anterior chamber intraocular lens (ACIOLs) on endothelial cell loss after deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK).
Methods: Prospectively gathered central endothelial cell densities of eyes with open-loop ACIOLs after DLEK were examined at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years.
Results: Nine eyes with an open-loop ACIOL were examined. Mean endothelial cell loss was 37% at 6 months (n = 9, P = 0.001), 36% at 1 year (n = 6, P = 0.001), and 41%, at 2 years (n = 5, P = 0.002) after surgery.
Conclusion: Postoperative endothelial cell loss over the first 2 years in this small series of patients undergoing DLEK with retention of an open-loop ACIOL may be greater in the first 6-12 months but similar at 2 years when compared with that found in the literature for the DLEK procedure.