Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy, prevention and management complications and choice of indication with Descemet membrane stripping with automated endothelium keratoplasty (DSAEK).
Methods: Clinical case series. Nine patients (9 eyes) with bullous keratopathy underwent DSAEK procedure from Peking University Eye Center, Peking University Third Hospital during September to December in 2007. Visual acuity, cornea transparency, graft position, corneal thickness, curvature, astigmatism and endothelial cells density (ECD) were observed over 3-7 month follow-up period.
Results: One patient with iris cornea endothelium syndrome was fail to insert graft into anterior chamber and changed procedure to penetrating keratoplasty. Eight patient successfully performed procedure. One graft dislocation in was managed in first day after surgery. All 8 grafts remained transparent and improved visual acuity. After surgery, mean corneal thickness was (775 +/- 30)microm. Mean corneal curvature was (44.19 +/- 2.28) D. Mean corneal astigmatism was (2.20 +/- 0.83) D. Mean endothelial cells density was (1439 +/- 296) cells/mm(2).
Conclusions: DSAEK is a less damage, faster recovery vision, safer procedure. It is expected to be the important procedure to treat bullous keratopathy.