Transplantation of corneal endothelium with Descemet's membrane using a hyroxyethyl methacrylate polymer as a carrier.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the histology and function of Descemet's membrane transplanted with intact endothelium.


METHODS
Japanese white rabbits and human eyebank eyes were used as donors and recipients of Descemet's membrane transplantation. Donor endothelium was hydrodissected by injecting indocyanine green from a limbal incision, and then processed as a corneal scleral button. A 6 mm diameter donor sheet was trephined, and folded in half using a 6 mm diameter polymer as a carrier. Recipient endothelium was also hydrodissected from the limbus using trypan blue to stain the Descemet's membrane. Continuous curvilinear descemetorhexis (CCD) was performed to remove a circular section of the Descemet's membrane using a 27 gauge cystotome. Donor tissue was inserted into the anterior chamber through a 5 mm limbal incision and apposed to the host stroma. Polymers were removed following transplantation. Similar surgical procedures were performed in both rabbits and eyebank eyes. Haematoxylin eosin stains were performed after 28 days in rabbits, and eyebank eyes were fixed immediately following surgery for endothelial cell counts.


RESULTS
Rabbit control eyes demonstrated stromal oedema caused by loss of Descemet's membrane, whereas transplanted eyes had clear corneas. The mean (standard deviation) pachymetry of operated eyes was 376.6 (SD 32.5) mum compared with 389.6 (SD 25.1) mum in the unoperated eye. Mean endothelial density immediately following surgery in eyebank eyes was 2749 (SD 288) cells/mm(2).


CONCLUSIONS
Transplantation of Descemet's membrane by CCD produces a functional graft with an optically clear interface similar to control cornea.
Shimmura
S
S
Department of Opthalmology, Toyko Dental College, 5-11-13 Sugano, Ichikiawa, Chiba 272-8513, Japan. shimmura@tdc.ac.jp
Miyashita
H
H
Konomi
K
K
Shinozaki
N
N
Taguchi
T
T
Kobayashi
H
H
Shimazaki
J
J
Tanaka
J
J
Tsubota
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008689:Methacrylates; D011817:Rabbits
D008689:Methacrylates; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate