Posters

Safety of the DMEK graft endothelium preloaded in the new MICRO injector for DMEK and PDEK 2.0 incision

Poster Details

First Author: E.Abdullayev USA

Co Author(s):                        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate endothelial cells viability of the eye bank prepared DMEK grafts and pre-loaded in the new Micro injector for DMEK and PDEK

Setting:

Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research, Tampa, Florida USA

Methods:

Six donor corneas with healthy endothelium were used. Six DMEK grafts were prepared at the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research (LEITR), Tampa, Florida USA with no-touch BLISTER method, stained and trephined. All grafts were loaded in the new LEITR MICRO modified Jones tube for DMEK and PDEK 2.0 incision and stored for 5 days in Optisol-GS at 2-8 C. Viability of the corneal endothelium was evaluated by slit lamp, specular microscopy and cell staining - stained with Trypan Blue (0.4%) and Alizarin Red S (0.5%). Stained endothelium was evaluated by dissecting microscope (Carl Zeiss Stemi SV11)

Results:

Mean preparation donor endothelial cells density was 2763 ± 111 cells/mm² and post preparation (prior to preload) - 2714 ± 115 cells/mm². On the first day following preload, the mean endothelial cell loss was 12 ± 0.44%, which remained stable at day 5. Endothelial specular microscopy and staining confirmed viable endothelium

Conclusions:

Eye bank prepared DMEK grafts and pre-loaded in new LEITR Micro modified Jones Tube for DMEK and PDEK 2.0 incision survive storage for several days and can be used for transplantation. Pre-loading reduces intra-operative tissue manipulation and saves OR time

Financial Disclosure:

None