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  • DMEK in a Pseudophakic Eye Next

    DMEK Donor Preparation

    By Francis W. Price Jr., MD
    Cornea/External Disease

    Dr. Francis Price demonstrates his approach for harvesting Descemet's membrane from a donor cornea in preparation for Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). He uses blunt instruments to score and separate Descemet's membrane from underlying stroma. The scored area is stained with trypan blue to ensure all loose pieces and torn edges are removed. While submerged in corneal storage solution, the membrane is peeled from the periphery toward the center from several directions. The tissue is trephined to the desired diameter before the final peel, freeing the donor endothelium and basement membrane completely from the stroma.