Posterior Segment Air Injection-Assisted Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Pseudophakic and Vitrectomized Eyes.

Abstract

This study aimed to present a novel technique for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in pseudophakic and vitrectomized eyes. The sterile air was injected into the posterior eye segment (anterior vitreous cavity) as a barrier to prevent the fluid of the vitreous cavity flowing into the anterior chamber, levitating the iris-lens diaphragm to flatten the anterior chamber during the surgery. This approach assists in the unfolding of the donor endothelial graft, helping to perform DMEK surgery on patients with a posterior intraocular lens (IOL) and vitrectomy. Four cases presented with corneal endothelial decompensation (pseudophakic bullous keratopathy) with previous IOL implantation and vitrectomy underwent DMEK with this technique. The Descemet endothelial graft unfolding time after air injection was 68.75 ± 8.96 seconds. No graft displacement occurred during the surgery. The uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities were improved in 3 of 4 patients. The corneas were transparent, and there was no graft detachment observed postoperatively in all 4 patients. The posterior eye segment air injection can reduce the difficulty of unfolding the DMEK graft in patients after IOL implantation and vitrectomy and the potential intraoperative and postoperative complications, allowing for easy performance of DMEK surgery on pseudophakic and vitrectomized eyes for corneal endothelial dysfunction.