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Purpose: To evaluate the clinical significance of dark spots in the donor endothelial cell layer as observed with specular microscopy, in patients who underwent Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED)., Methods: Specular microscopy images of 83 consecutive eyes up to 7 years after DMEK were retrospectively reviewed in a masked fashion for the presence of dark spots and morphologic changes in the endothelial cell layer and processed for endothelial cell density (ECD) measurements., Results: A normal endothelial cell layer was found in 52/83 eyes (62.7%) (group 0). In the remaining 31/83 eyes, various dark discolorations with or without altered endothelial cell morphology were categorized into 4 groups. Dark spots were classified as artifacts in 10/83 (12.0%) eyes (group I) and as "superimposed" dots in 10/83 (12.0%) eyes (group II), that is, optical irregularities slightly anterior to a healthy endothelial cell layer. In 11/83 (13.3%) eyes, endothelial stress was characterized by dark grayish discolorations and/or nuclear activation (group III). Most of the latter eyes also had a significant ECD decrease; 3 of these eyes later developed secondary graft failure, of which one was preceded by allograft rejection. None of the eyes showed recurrent guttae typical for FED (group IV)., Conclusions: Dark endothelial spots after DMEK for FED may not represent a recurrent disease, but tissue irregularities just anterior to the graft. However, if associated with changes in endothelial cell morphology, nuclear activation and/or ECD decrease, dark discolorations may reflect "cellular stress" heralding secondary graft failure or (subclinical) allograft rejection.

Purpose: To describe the presence of "salt and pepper endothelium", that is, typical cellular inclusion bodies in a patient with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), that recurred in the donor corneal endothelial cells after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK)., Methods: A 76-year-old man underwent DMEK for FECD in his left eye. Routine specular microscopy imaging, best-corrected visual acuity measurements, and pachymetry measurements were performed before and after surgery., Results: Besides large guttae indicating FECD, preoperative specular microscopy images showed variable-sized dark cellular inclusion bodies in the endothelial cells. One month after DMEK, donor endothelial cells appeared normal; however, at 3 months, the typical inclusion bodies reappeared and progressed slowly within a 4-year follow-up period. Both best-corrected visual acuity and pachymetry were stable throughout the study period., Conclusions: "Salt and pepper endothelium" recurred after the host tissue was exchanged by donor Descemet membrane, that is, a DMEK graft. These changes may indicate that either the donor corneal endothelial cell morphology is modified by adjacent tissue structures or that it is completely replaced by recipient endothelium within the first months after surgery.

Purpose: To describe specific maneuvers and technical modifications to the standardized "no-touch" technique of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) to successfully handle the presence of a glaucoma drainage device (GDD) tube in the anterior chamber of an eye with a failed primary penetrating keratoplasty (PK) graft., Methods: A 42-year-old male patient underwent DMEK because of a failed primary PK graft in his phakic right eye. The patient was then evaluated at 3 and at 6 months after surgery., Results: A modified no-touch DMEK technique proved a feasible treatment option for a decompensated primary PK graft in the presence of a long GDD tube., Conclusions: With specific technical modifications DMEK can be successfully performed in eyes with decompensated primary PK grafts in the presence of a long GDD tube. The very thin DMEK graft allows positioning between the GDD tube and the failed PK graft, leaving the tube in place.

Purpose: To evaluate the 1-year clinical outcome after semi-circular Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (hemi-DMEK) in a first case series., Methods: In three eyes of three patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), pachymetry, and intra- and postoperative complications were evaluated after transplantation of a semi-circular ~12 mm diameter Descemet graft (hemi-DMEK graft)., Results: All corneas cleared within 6 months and showed a stable pachymetry thereafter (527, 535, and 490 μm, respectively). Compared to preoperative measurements, average central ECDs dropped by 51 % (56, 39, and 59 %, respectively) at 3 months, 53 % (57, 38, and 63 %, respectively) at 6 months, and 59 % (60, 47, and 71 %, respectively) at 12 months. Denuded stromal areas adjacent to the hemi-DMEK graft cleared and at 12 months peripheral ECD counts ranged from 724 to 1051 cells/mm(2). At 12 months, BCVA was 20/22 (0.9), 20/40 (0.5, amblyopic eye) and 20/17 (1.2). No postoperative complications occurred throughout the study period., Conclusions: Hemi-DMEK may provide visual outcomes similar to those in standard DMEK at the 1-year postoperative mark. If also graft survival and complication rates prove to be similar, hemi-DMEK could become the next step in endothelial keratoplasty, owing to its potential to double the yield of transplants from the same donor pool (two hemi-DMEK grafts can be prepared from one donor cornea).

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical outcome of the first 450 consecutive cases after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), as well as the effect of standardization of the technique., Material and Methods: Comparison between 3 groups: Group I: (cases 1-125), as the extended learning curve; Group II: (cases 126-250), transition to technique standardization; Group III: (cases 251-450), surgery with standardized technique. Best corrected visual acuity, endothelial cell density, pachymetry and intra- and postoperative complications were evaluated before, and 1, 3 and 6 months after DMEK., Results: At 6 months after surgery, 79% of eyes reached a best corrected visual acuity of≥0.8 and 43%≥1.0. Mean preoperative endothelial cell density was 2,530±220 cells/mm2 and 1,613±495 at 6 months after surgery. Mean pachymetry measured 668±92 μm and 526±46 μm pre- and (6 months) postoperatively, respectively. There were no significant differences in best corrected visual acuity, endothelial cell density and pachymetry between the 3 groups (P > .05). Graft detachment presented in 17.3% of the eyes. The detachment rate declined from 24% to 12%, and the rate of secondary surgeries from 9.6% to 3.5%, from group I to III respectively., Conclusions: Visual outcomes and endothelial cell density after DMEK are independent of the technique standardization. However, technique standardization may have contributed to a lower graft detachment rate and a relatively low number of secondary interventions required. As such, DMEK may become the first choice of treatment in corneal endothelial disease., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)