Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty, otherwise known as DSAEK, is a new form of corneal transplantation surgery. Unlike traditional corneal transplantation where the entire cornea is replaced, only the inner most layer of the cornea, known as the endothelium, is replaced in DSAEK.

Many corneal disorders such as Fuch’s Dystrophy or Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy are solely the result of a diseased or dysfunctional endothelial layer. Interestingly, this endothelial layer makes up only a tiny percentage of the overall cornea. Until recently however, the only way to address such endothelial problems was to replace the entire cornea with traditional corneal transplant surgery. There are significant downsides to this traditional approach because in these instances, the vast majority of the patient’s own corneal tissue is healthy, however it must nevertheless be sacrificed with this technique. In addition, a large amount of sutures are needed to secure the transplant in the traditional procedure, resulting in an undesirable high level of post operative astigmatism. This large amount of astigmatism can have a significant negative effect on the final visual acuity after the surgery.

The advantages of DSAEK over the traditional procedure include the fact that only the diseased endothelial layer is replaced in DSAEK, and therefore the patient’s own healthy corneal tissue is preserved. In addition, no corneal sutures are needed and therefore the large amount of postoperative astigmatism that typically occurs with the traditional procedure is avoided. Perhaps the greatest advantage of DSAEK is that the visual recovery - which is usually 9-12 months or more with traditional corneal transplantation - is greatly reduced to just a few short weeks.

The specialists at the East West Eye Institute have the training and expertise to provide this exciting advancement in corneal surgery. If you believe that you, or someone you know, might be a candidate for the DSAEK procedure, please contact the specialists at the East West Eye Institute. We will be happy to assist you in arranging a consultation and answering any questions that you might have.