Introduction / Purpose
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a progressive corneal dystrophy initially characterized by collagenous excrescences (so-called guttae) at the level of the posterior elastic membrane (or Descemet’s membrane, DM) and eventually by stromal edema (bullous keratopathy, BK) with fibrosis leading to significant impairment of visual function.1,2 Selective replacement of the membrane with vital endothelial vision can be restored.3,4
The conventional surgical steps for replacement include the following: Preparing the donor tissue, descemetorhexis, peripheral iridotomy (ie, a preoperative or intraoperative inferior peripheral iridotomy [PI]), implanting and positioning the donor graft. The limitations with PI-based Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) are possible glare,…