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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Corneal Donor Tissue Preparation for Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty
Published on: September 17, 2014
Simple technique to unfold the donor corneal lenticule during Descemet's stripping and automated endothelial
Steven B Koenig1, William J Dupps, Douglas J Covert
1Eye Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA. skoenig@mcw.edu
Abstract:
We describe a technique to facilitate unfolding and prevent inversion of the donor corneal lenticule during Descemet's stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). The donor corneal lenticule is unfolded in the anterior chamber using a bent 30-gauge needle on a 3 cc air syringe. The needle tip is used to pinion the edge of the lenticule while an air bubble is simultaneously injected between the folded edges of the donor graft. A gentian-violet dye mark placed on the peripheral stromal surface of the donor lenticule is used to confirm proper graft orientation. The simple technique of simultaneously fixating the donor lenticule while injecting air ensures that the graft unfolds correctly and minimizes potential mechanical trauma to the endothelium.
