Abstract

DO.24.04

Posterior lamellar keratoplasty – pearls and pitfalls

Elisabeth M. Messmer

Augenklinik der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Posterior lamellar keratoplasty is a new and exciting surgical technique in the treatment of corneal endothelial disorders. A selective replacement of the posterior cornea offers a number of distinct advantages compared to penetrating keratoplasty: faster visual rehabilitation, improved surface topography with reduction of postsurgical astigmatism, reduced risk of expulsive hemorrhage in a closed system procedure, protection of corneal innervation, and a possible reduction of endothelial graft rejections. In Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) only descemet’s membrane is removed without adherent stroma. Reasons for failure of DSAEK include pronounced intraoperative endothelial cell loss, retained fetal layer of descemet membrane, wrong positioning of the posterior graft “endothelium-up” and epithelial invasion. Typical clinico-histopathological correlations will be presented.

Copyright: 2009 Porstmann Kongresse GmbH. All rights reserved. Impressum, Disclaimer.