Corneal Endothelium Transplant - DSAEK o DMEK

Corneal endothelium transplant is becoming the more widespread kind of transplant. It is performed in case of corneal edema caused by cornea guttata or bullous keratopathy.

This transplant consists in the replacement of the only damaged inner layer (endothelium), instead of the whole cornea.

The biggest advantage of the corneal endothelium transplan is the vision recovery that is definitely faster campared to traditional transplant.

The most common technique to perform this surgery is called DSAEK and consist in removing only the endothelium from the patient’s cornea, replacing it with an healthy endothelium coming from a donor.

This thin corneal layer is removed and replaced with a new layer; than an air bubble is injected inside the eye to make the new endothelium adhere to the patient’s cornea.

There are several advantages when choosing corneal endothelium transplant instead of traditional transplant:

  • Corneal endothelium transplant post-op is pretty quick: usually patients experience a full vision recovery as soon as 3 months after surgery;
  • Only two or three suture points are needed, avoiding all complications related to traditional corneal transplant suture (high degree astigmatism, erosions and infections on the corneal surface);
  • Rejection risk, when speaking of corneal endothelium transplant is fairly lower compared to traditional transplants.

A new methodology for the corneal endothelium transplant is the DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty): here the tissue portion is even thinner and visual recovery hypothetically faster. Dr. Badalà performs this kind of endothelium transplant in case of bullouse keratopathy and cornea guttata in Milan and Catania.

Testimonials corneal diseases: Cornea guttata

Piero Banna, Catania

Votazione: Eccellente
Problem: Corneal diseases
I underwent DMEK (an endothelian cornel transplant) in my right eye over a year ago. The corneal transplant was performed by Dr. Badalà.
My vision was very bad, 20/200 in the affected eye and it was bothering the visio... Keep on reading this reviewn I had with my better eye, making it very difficult to use the two eyes together, specifically when driving.
I trust Dr. Badalà because of US training and said: “I’m at the last shore, even if the surgery doesn’t go well, this eye is only giving me problems”
All eye examination before and after the operation were performed in the excellent Eye center located in Catania.
The corneal transplant with the very new technique DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) was carried out in Milan in a private hospital, accredited with the National Healthcare,with state of the art equipment and was totally free of charge for me.
The surgery was under general anesthesia without complications. The only real problem, which was extensively explained by Dr. Badalà, is that I had to stay flat in bed for the first day with my head facing the ceiling. This is because the new endothelial cells transplanted are kept in place by a small air bubble. I was allowed to move every half an hour and from the next day I was allowed to go back to a normal life.
The time in the hospital - one night - was fast and warmed up by a very kind nursing team and frequent encounters with the doctor, who was always answering my questions, showing confidence and humanity.
No patching and fast progressive visual rehabilitation surprised me. Two months post-op. visual acuity was 20/40, similar to my better eye. Six months after visual acuity is 20/25 much better and clear than my “older” good eye.
When I went to buy a new pair of glasses my German optician, well-known in Catania, said: “I can’t believe it, it’s a miracle! Who’s the eye surgeon that made this new eye? Tell him he made a good job!”
I’m convinced that corneal transplant surgery is complex and requires high technology and a lot of experience, when a surgery like this seems simple and routinary, that means that the eye surgeon is really good.
Thank you Doctor Badalà, I’m starting to think seriously about getting a corneal transplant in the other eye.

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