To investigate the postoperative results of Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty in bullous keratoplasty and graft failure cases.

Eight eyes of eight patients who underwent DSAEK between September 2006 and August 2008 were followed-up for at least 3 months, and the charts of eight patients were reviewed retrospectively. Five eyes of the total eight had bullous keratopathy, and three eyes needed DSAEK due to graft failure. The best corrective visual acuity (logMAR) improved from 1.625±0.60 to 0.825±0.35 and corneal thickness decreased from 785.63±135.58 µm to 692.00±150.85 µm 3 months postoperatively. Grafted corneal dislocation occurred in two eyes, and we repositioned the cornea in those participants by air injection. We found graft rejection signs in two cases, and one case showed graft failure despite steroid therapy.

We think that DSAEK will be a good surgical procedure in bullous keratopathy or graft failure patients because of its favorable postoperative prognosis.