Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty: the new frontier in endothelial transplantation

Abstract

Endothelial keratoplasty (EK) has been well established as the treatment of choice for endothelial dysfunction because of the rapid visual recovery, stable corneal surface, and lower risk for severe intra- and postoperative complications. Innovations in EK have transformed it from a procedure performed by only a few select surgeons because of its complex technique requirements into a surgery offered to patients with vision similar to candidates for cataract surgery. Current EK techniques include the addition of stromal tissue to the host cornea, and distort the native anatomy. Descemet’s membrane EK now offers true structural replacement surgery for endothelial dysfunction and early evidence indicates that it may provide better results than predecessor surgeries.

Keywords::

• corneal transplant
• DLEK
• DSAEK
• endothelial dysfunction
• endothelial keratoplasty
• endothelial transplant
• penetrating keratoplasty
• PK
• PLK

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.