title: Descemet-stripping endothelial keratoplasty: improvement in vision following replacement of a healthy endothelial graft.
abstract: We describe a case of endothelial graft exchange in a patient who had inadequate vision without a clinically identifiable cause following Descemet-stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). The initial DSEK was performed with a hand-dissected donor, and the replacement graft was prepared with an automated microkeratome. The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) improved from 20/50 before replacement to 20/25 after replacement. Although DSEK provides rapid recovery of excellent vision, few patients achieve a BSCVA of 20/20. Some have substandard vision with no clinically identifiable cause. This case demonstrates that replacing a hand-prepared graft with an automated microkeratome-prepared graft may improve vision in patients with no identifiable cause for visual loss.
authors.affiliation: Spectrum Eye Physicians, San Jose, California 95129, USA. eschen37@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Edwin S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shamie
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Terry
mesh_terms: D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000637:transplantation*; D005642:Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity