Transient peripheral edema following displaced corneal graft after descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK): case presentation

BACKGROUND: Descemet's Stripping with Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) is constantly gaining popularity in the management of endothelial dysfunctions such as bullous keratopathy or Fuchs' dystrophy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36 year - old man with Fuchs' dystrophy underwent combined phacoemulsification and DSAEK of the right eye. Immediately postoperatively, corneal graft displacement and peripheral corneal edema which remained stable during the first postoperative month were evident on slit lamp examination. Three months after the procedure the peripheral edema had completely resolved and the patients' subjective symptoms were improved. CONCLUSIONS: The purpose of this case presentation is to demonstrate that corneal graft displacement after DSAEK can lead to peripheral corneal edema that can resolve without further intervention such as graft repositioning or replacement.