DSAEK is a partial thickness cornea transplant procedure that involves selective removal of the patient's Descemet membrane and endothelium, followed by transplantation of donor corneal endothelium in addition to donor corneal stroma.
The procedure is used to treat corneal edema in the setting of endothelial dystrophies (such as Fuchs corneal dystrophy, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, endothelial failure in the setting of prior intraocular surgery or of a previous PK graft, and other causes of corneal endothelial dysfunction DSAEK offers the advantage over full thickness transplantation of relatively rapid healing time and visual rehabilitation.