Histopathologic and optical coherence tomography observation after descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty in rabbits.

OBJECTIVES

To study the histopathologic and optical coherence tomography changes after Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty in rabbits.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty was performed in 14 rabbit eyes and descemetorhexis was performed in 10 rabbits, as control. Histopathologic examination and anterior-segment optical coherence tomography were conducted in the Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty group at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. For the control group, histopathologic examination was performed before surgery and at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery.

RESULTS

In the Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty group, corneas cleared completely within 2 weeks of surgery. Moreover, in most cases, the retained Descemet's membrane was present at the peripheral donor-host interface. The retrocorneal fibrocellular membrane also was seen in the peripheral Descemet's membrane stripped area without donor coverage. Anterior-segment optical coherence tomography revealed that the stroma deturgesed most rapidly between weeks 1 and 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Retained Descemet's membrane was not the cause for graft dislocation and the retrocorneal fibrocellular membrane may be a kind of protective reaction to denuded endothelium.