Corneal clarity restoration after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty with edematous corneal graft.

PURPOSE

To report a case of a patient who underwent Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) with implantation of a precut edematous corneal graft, and restored corneal clarity 3 months postoperatively.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

A 54-year-old woman underwent DSAEK due to Fuchs endothelial dystrophy. An edematous appearance of the donor graft was unveiled upon graft preparation but the surgeon decided not to abort the procedure. The severity of graft opacity was not unveiled until implantation. During the first 2 postoperative months recipient cornea and graft continued to appear edematous. After the first 3 postoperative months the patient's cornea had restored its clarity with corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 20/63. No residual graft edema was observed while 9 months postoperatively CDVA was improved to 20/32.

CONCLUSIONS

Corneal clarity in a post-DSAEK patient with implantation of edematous graft could be restored after the first 3 postoperative months.