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Updated: Aug 18, 2025
Corneal Donor Tissue Preparation for Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty
Published on: September 17, 2014
Infectious crystalline keratopathy following Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty
Ishith Seth1,2,3, Gabriella Bulloch1,3, Philipp K Roberts1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victorian Ear and Eye Hospital, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Introduction:
We describe this first case of Staphylococcus epidermidis causing infectious crystalline keratopathy (ICK) following Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), that resolved after 5 weeks of topical antibiotic and corticosteroid treatment.
Case Description:
An 80-year-old woman presented with blurred vision, redness, and ocular pain 9 months after successful DSAEK. Slit lamp examination revealed the presence of white, non-suppurative, deep-branching stromal infiltrates, and a clinical diagnosis of ICK was made. Cultures of corneal scapings isolated multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. No subsequent surgical procedures were performed. Based on antibiotic sensitivity analysis, she was treated successfully with topical vancomycin and chloramphenicol for 5 weeks. Complete resolution of the infection with minor anterior stromal corneal scarring of the host cornea was noted after 5 weeks of treatment. This case report describes the diagnosis and management of ICK after DSAEK and reviews the relevant literature regarding the occurrence of ICK after DSAEK.
Conclusion:
In this case, vancomycin and chloramphenicol allowed for the uncomplicated resolution of infection with only minor visual impairment from baseline.
