Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) or Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) for Damaged Cornea?
October 26, 2011
Twenty years ago I had a spontaneous detached retina in my left eye which detached three times in three months. A scleral buckle now holds the retina in place.
Three years ago I had a DSAEK surgery in the same eye which is now failing as the endothelial cells are dying once again.
In the meantime, my right eye has been diagnosed with Fuchs Dystrophy. Is it possible that the Fuchs in my right eye is causing the endothelial cells in my left eye to die? In other words, is Fuchs a bi-lateral disease? I now have to make a decision as to the type of surgery I have in my left eye….repeat the DSAEK or PKP.
I have increasing edema, descemet’s folds and deteriorating vision.
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2 Responses to “Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) or Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) for Damaged Cornea?”
Fuchs’ IS bilateral but doesn’t always advance to requiring a DSAEK in both eyes or even at the same time.
Fuchs’ cannot ‘infect’ the graft you received with your DSAEK.
What is most likely happening is that you are experienceing a rejection episode. Your surgeon should be apprised and take appropriate steps to reduce the chance of losing the graft by starting/increasing the Steroid drops which many of us continue to take for the rest of our lifetime.
Jim was incorrect. You cannot join Fuchs’ Friends the way he indicated. Please go to http://www.cornealdystrophyfoundation.org and click on the blue box in the upper right of the page that says “Join Our Fuchs’ Friends Support Community online Click Here”. You will be guided through the process.
In order to provide the best experience for members, Our Fuchs’ Friends Support Community online requires that you go through a process that verifies you are not someone that may join just to disturb our members
Fuchs is a bilateral condition. However, if you had a DSAEK the endothelium was replaced and would not be experiencing Fuchs any longer. Not sure why you would be experiencing the cell loss to the point of needing a transplant.
They can do DSAEK or DMEK again and would be the surgery of choice in my view.
An excellent support group for FD is Fuchs Friends on Yahoo groups. Which can be found here.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/fuchsfriends/
Good luck.
Jim
