title: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty postoperative year 1 endothelial cell counts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report endothelial cell counts (ECC) in patients 1 year after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and suggest surgical techniques that may minimize intraoperative endothelial cell loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective case series of 125 consecutive cases with 1 year of postoperative follow-up. Eight-millimeter DMEK grafts were prepared at a single institution via the submerged cornea, using backgrounds away technique. Grafts were introduced through a 2.4-mm incision and a "no-touch" technique was used to position them.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean preoperative donor ECC was 2740 ± 210 (cells/mm(2)). Mean postoperative year 1 ECC was 2210 ± 550 for an ECC loss of 19% ± 10%. Rebubbling was performed in 5% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative year 1 endothelial cell counts in DMEK can equal and even surpass those of Descemet stripping automated endothelial cell keratoplasty (DSAEK) or even penetrating keratoplasty. Given reported decreased rejection rates in DMEK, these patients may have notably superior ECC 5 and 10 years out from surgery compared to if they had undergone DSAEK.
authors.affiliation: Gorovoy Eye Specialists, Fort Myers, Florida. Electronic address: iangorovoy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ian Roderick
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Gorovoy
authors.affiliation: Gorovoy Eye Specialists, Fort Myers, Florida.
authors.forename: Mark Steven
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gorovoy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D055954:Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005642:Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors