Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty
The Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) describes a special form of corneal transplant for diseases of the cornea is used, which only refer to the corneal endothelium. In diseases such as Fuchs endothelial dystrophy or pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, the diseased cells including the Descemet membrane underneath can be removed and replaced by a Descemet membrane with healthy corneal endothelium from a donor. Advantages of this surgical technique compared to conventional perforating corneal transplantation, in which not a single layer but the entire cornea is transplanted, is the relatively quick recovery of visual acuity (days to weeks after DMEK; months to years for perforating corneal transplantation) and the lower trauma during the Surgery. The DMEK surgical technique has so far only been offered in specialized centers.
Individual proof
- ↑ ClinicalTrials.gov: Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) , 2010, online here ; last viewed on June 20, 2010
Web links
- Lamellar minimally invasive transplantation procedure of the cornea at the eye clinic of the University Clinic Cologne