Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty, abbreviated DMEK, is a method of corneal transplantation in which a surgeon removes a thin sheet of tissue, the Descemet's membrane and corneal endothelium, from the innermost side of a person's diseased cornea and replaces it with the same layers taken from a donor cornea. The donor tissue is inserted through a small incision and secured in place with an air bubble rather than sutures. DMEK is used to treat conditions affecting the cornea's endothelial layer, including Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, and iridocorneal endothelial syndrome. A related variant, Descemet membrane automated endothelial keratoplasty, uses a microkeratome or femtosecond laser to prepare the donor tissue automatically rather than by hand.