Endothelial Keratoplasty in Glaucoma Patients: Is DMEK Safe?

Dr. Straiko discusses the safety of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in glaucomatous eyes. DMEK is his preferred method in medically controlled glaucoma, but graft survival is less in eyes with surgically managed glaucoma. In glaucoma eyes with filtering tubes or blebs, DMEK is preferred, but rates of graft complication and endothelial cell loss have not been established by comprehensive studies to confirm the same favorable risk/benefit ratio as DSAEK.