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Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:134-137 doi:10.1136/bjo.2004.050591
  • Clinical science
    • Scientific reports

Transplantation of corneal endothelium with Descemet’s membrane using a hyroxyethyl methacrylate polymer as a carrier

  1. S Shimmura1,
  2. H Miyashita1,
  3. K Konomi1,
  4. N Shinozaki1,
  5. T Taguchi2,
  6. H Kobayashi2,
  7. J Shimazaki1,
  8. J Tanaka2,
  9. K Tsubota1,3
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan
  2. 2Biomaterials Center, National Institute for Materials Science, Ibaragi, Japan
  3. 3Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
  1. Correspondence to: Dr S Shimmura Department of Opthalmology, Toyko Dental College, 5-11-13 Sugano, Ichikiawa, Chiba 272-8513, Japan; shimmuratdc.ac.jp
  • Accepted 7 July 2004

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the histology and function of Descemet’s membrane transplanted with intact endothelium.

Methods: Japanese white rabbits and human eyebank eyes were used as donors and recipients of Descemet’s membrane transplantation. Donor endothelium was hydrodissected by injecting indocyanine green from a limbal incision, and then processed as a corneal scleral button. A 6 mm diameter donor sheet was trephined, and folded in half using a 6 mm diameter polymer as a carrier. Recipient endothelium was also hydrodissected from the limbus using trypan blue to stain the Descemet’s membrane. Continuous curvilinear descemetorhexis (CCD) was performed to remove a circular section of the Descemet’s membrane using a 27 gauge cystotome. Donor tissue was inserted into the anterior chamber through a 5 mm limbal incision and apposed to the host stroma. Polymers were removed following transplantation. Similar surgical procedures were performed in both rabbits and eyebank eyes. Haematoxylin eosin stains were performed after 28 days in rabbits, and eyebank eyes were fixed immediately following surgery for endothelial cell counts.

Results: Rabbit control eyes demonstrated stromal oedema caused by loss of Descemet’s membrane, whereas transplanted eyes had clear corneas. The mean (standard deviation) pachymetry of operated eyes was 376.6 (SD 32.5) μm compared with 389.6 (SD 25.1) μm in the unoperated eye. Mean endothelial density immediately following surgery in eyebank eyes was 2749 (SD 288) cells/mm2.

Conclusions: Transplantation of Descemet’s membrane by CCD produces a functional graft with an optically clear interface similar to control cornea.

Footnotes

  • This study was supported by The Advanced and Innovational Research Program in Life Sciences from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

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