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Abstract

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.