REPLAY - Ultra-Thin DSAEK: The Thinner, The Easier

Since its first descriptions in the early 2000s, endothelial transplantation (or posterior lamellar keratoplasty) has advanced significantly and is now a “here-to-stay” surgery used worldwide with 2 main techniques: Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) and Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK).

DSAEK was introduced in 2004 by Dr Price (Indianapolis, USA) and involves replacement of the patient’s diseased endothelium and Descemet Membrane (DM) with endothelium, DM, and posterior corneal stroma from the donor cornea. To do so, the optimal lenticules for DSAEK are prepared rapidly and consistently via automated dissection of donated corneas.

For a variety of pathologies, such as advanced pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) or vitrectomized eyes, the use of DSAEK is largely favored over DMEK. More generally, the DSAEK procedure is preferred in cases where the DMEK procedure would be too difficult to achieve.

Several studies suggest that endothelial graft thickness has an influence on postoperative best-corrected visual acuity after a DSAEK procedure, and that thinner DSAEK grafts result in faster and improved visual acuity recovery.

Moria stands at the forefront of DSAEK surgery by introducing new automated microkeratome and pressure-maintainer equipment (ACP) to simplify, standardize and further optimize ultra-thin DSAEK graft preparation.

Eye surgeons