Evaluation Of A New Technique For Preparation Of Endothelial Grafts For Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty

The purpose of this study was to describe a technique for preparing endothelial grafts for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Cairo University

This prospective interventional exvivo investigational study included 22 corneas used to separate Descemet’s-endothelial complex membrane, using a new relatively simple technique that utilized an artificial anterior chamber and no touch maneuvers to be prepared for DMEK. All grafts were prepared by single corneal surgeon. Primary outcome measures the time needed to prepare the grafts and the number of graft tears.

The mean cell density of the donor corneas was 3005.3 ± 253.6 cell/mm², the duration of whole preparation starting from placing the graft over the artificial AC till the complete separation of the DM and placing it to tissue preservation medium was 314.1 ± 27.9 seconds. Scoring of DM and separation of the membrane from underlying stroma consumed 27.8 ± 0.9 and 26.6 ± 2.1 seconds respectively.  

We proposed an innovative step for scoring DMEK grafts, making the graft preparation more simple, reproducible and easy to be performed by average experienced surgeons in the learning curve of DMEK surgery.