Postmortem ultra-structural analysis of a cornea transplanted with Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK)

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea Surgical I

Session Date/Time: Monday 15/09/2014 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 09:45

Venue: Boulevard B

First Author: : E.Livny THE NETHERLANDS

Co Author(s): :    J. Parker   M. van der Kaaij   E. Haasdijk   J. van der Wees   M. Bruinsma   G. Melles

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To describe the ultra-structure of the host-donor interface in the eye of a recently deceased patient, having previously undergone Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK).

Setting:

Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery / Tertiary referral center.

Methods:

The eye was enucleated post-mortem and after standard decontamination, the corneo-scleral button was excised, cut into 4 quadrants and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) evaluation.

Results:

TEM revealed close attachment of the donor’s Descemet membrane to the host’s stroma and projection of stromal collagen fibers into the interfacial matrix, resembling a normal ’virgin’ corneal architecture.

Conclusions:

Ultra-structurally, an attached DMEK graft closely resembles that of an un-operated, healthy eye with no appreciable adventitious or missing structures.

Financial Interest:

One or more of the authors... receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented