Postmortem ultrastructural analysis of a cornea transplanted with descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty

Eitan Livny, Jack S. Parker, Mariëlle Van Der Kaaij, Elize D. Haasdijk, Jacqueline Van Der Wees, Marieke Bruinsma, Gerrit R.J. Melles*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE:: The aim of this study was to describe the ultrastructure of the host-donor interface in the eye of a recently deceased patient, who had undergone Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty. METHODS:: The eye was enucleated postmortem, and after standard decontamination, the corneoscleral button was excised, cut into 4 quadrants, and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy evaluation. RESULTS:: Transmission electron microscopy 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:: Ultrastructurally, an attached Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty graft closely resembles that of an unoperated, healthy eye with no appreciable adventitious or missing structures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)790-794
Number of pages5
JournalCornea
Volume33
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • DMEK
  • Descemet membrane
  • corneal transplantation
  • electron microscopy
  • endothelium
  • ultrastructure

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