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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Corneal Donor Tissue Preparation for Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty
Published on: September 17, 2014
Slit-lamp technique of draining interface fluid following Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty
Sathish Srinivasan1, David S Rootman
1Department of Ophthalmology, Toronto Western Hospital, Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. sathish.srinivasan@gmail.com
Aim:
To describe a new slit-lamp technique for draining interface fluid to manage complete donor disc detachments following Descemet's stripping (automated) endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK/DSAEK).
Methods:
Interventional case series. Five DSEK/DSAEK patients presented on the first postoperative day with complete detachment of the donor lenticule. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed interface fluid preventing attachment of the donor disc to the host stromal bed. A new slit-lamp technique is described to drain the interface fluid. This technique involved completely filling the anterior chamber with an air bubble using a 30-gauge needle on a 3 ml syringe. Following this, a 0.12 forceps was used to open the inferior mid-peripheral corneal drainage slit to drain the interface fluid.
Results:
This technique was successful in draining the interface fluid in all five patients, leading to immediate complete reattachment of the donor disc.
Conclusion:
Donor disc detachments following DSEK/DSAEK can be successfully managed by this slit-lamp technique of draining the interface fluid.
