Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty for vitrectomized cases with traumatic aniridia and aphakic bullous keratopathy

Hiroshi Eguchi, Tatsuro Miyamoto, Fumika Hotta, Machiko Tomida, Masayuki Inoue, Yoshinori Mitamura

Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan

Abstract: The surgical indication for Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) is largely limited to phakic or pseudophakic cases of endothelial dysfunction with normal pupils, because the endothelial lenticule is generally attached to the recipient cornea by use of gas tamponade into the anterior chamber. Although it may be desirable for vitrectomized cases with aniridia and aphakic bullous keratopathy without capsule support to undergo DSAEK, one of the major problems is lenticule detachment during surgery or in the postoperative period. To perform DSAEK in such cases, special surgical techniques are needed in order to facilitate adhesion of the lenticule. Herein, we describe a suture technique for attaching the endothelial lenticule in DSAEK for aniridic and aphakic cases that have undergone vitrectomy for traumatic vitreoretinal disease.

Keywords: traumatic aniridia, aphakic bullous keratopathy, Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, vitrectomy