Use of infant donor tissue in endothelial keratoplasty.

Dear editor

We have read with great interest the recent article by Kobayashi et al describing endothelial keratoplasty using infant donor tissue.1 This is a fine case report describing the use of infant donor tissue as a viable source when performing non-Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (nDSAEK). Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and nDSAEK seem to be the only currently accepted forms of keratoplasty for which donor tissue under the age of 2 years is acceptable. When used to perform penetrating keratoplasty, it is known that infantile grafts behave in an ectatic fashion.2,3 This is likely due to their more elastic properties. Tissue preparation in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) proves to be too difficult given the strength of adhesion of Descemet membrane to the overlying stroma.1

We would also like to bring to your attention the article entitled “Use of infant donor tissue for endokeratoplasty”, published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in December of 2001.2 Shiuey and Moshirfar4 describe the use of infant tissue (20 months) in the successful performance of this procedure. While this variation of endokeratoplasty is seldom performed in 2014, substitution of diseased host endothelium with that of an infant was performed. Endothelial cell counts similar to those described in the current article were documented.

Given that the article by Shiuey and Moshirfar was the first to describe replacement of posterior tissue with that of an infant while leaving the anterior corneal stroma and epithelium intact, we thought it would be a valuable reference to be mentioned for readers interested in this topic. Once again, we would like to congratulate and commend the authors of the current article on the success of the procedure and the value that it provides for future generations of corneal surgeons performing DSAEK and nDSAEK.