Optimizing outcomes with Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty

To review recent advances in posterior lamellar keratoplasty and to describe strategies that enhance the outcome of Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and should lead to a more widespread use of this technique.

DMEK offers significant advantages over Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) such as less immune reaction and better visual acuity because of less higher order aberrations. Donor selection should exclude donors under 50 years because of tissue elasticity; several advanced techniques now allow donor preparation from both cold and organ-cultured tissue in about 99% minimizing the risk of graft loss. Oversizing the area of Descemet's stripping in relationship to graft size enhances graft attachment and use of a standardized approach for graft delivery. Air bubble-driven nontouch unfolding techniques and, possibly, gas tamponade in the anterior chamber further enhance graft attachment and reduce surgery-induced endothelial cell loss. Graft orientation is made earlier by marking, slit beam and optical coherence tomography. Novel understanding of the functional anatomy of Descemet's membrane as well as migration of endothelial cells will allow to further refine DMEK and improve its outcome.

Although the superiority of DMEK over Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty in terms of safety and functionality had been further elucidated, remarkable progress has been made in the recent past regarding tissue preparation, insertion and intraoperative manipulation that will foster the more widespread use of DMEK among corneal surgeons.