Course Description
Our advanced DMEK wetlab course is for corneal surgeons who are familiar with standard DMEK surgery for conditions such as Fuchs endothelial dystrophy and who wish to deepen their understanding of DMEK to encompass more complex cases. This course consists of a one-day program scheduled on Thursday at NIIOS in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Program
This is a very practical course in which you will acquire the abilities and knowledge to perform advanced DMEK in challenging eyes. This may include DMEK on phakic eyes, eyes with corneal edema, hypotonic eyes, eyes with an anterior chamber IOL, re-grafts and DMEK after a failed penetrating graft.
In the morning there will be scientific presentations and video presentations that will give you a detailed overview on how to approach advanced DMEK. This includes cases showed in videos and explained in detail by our team of experienced surgeons. We give tips, tricks and surgical considerations for preoperative patient and graft selection, intraoperative graft unfolding and postoperative complication management in challenging eyes.
In addition we explain how to solve “DMEK nightmares” (complications), both intra-operative such as upside-down, scrumbled, single roll and flushed out grafts and post-operative such as failed DMEK management and algorithm for re-bubbling.
We will also discuss the latest results and developments in advanced DMEK cases. Attendants are encouraged to ask for their preferences and main areas of difficulties so that we can discuss those topics more lengthily and show videos accordingly.
In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to practice advanced DMEK surgery on porcine and human eyes yourself. Our staff will guide you through every step. You can also discuss your own challenging cases in a one-on-one consultation with one of our specialist surgeons.
What You Will Achieve in This Course
Our goal is that after you complete the advanced DMEK wetlab course for experienced corneal surgeons, you will:
- have improved your ability to perform advanced DMEK in challenging eyes;
- be familiar with non-standard indications for DMEK and the results, complications and aftercare of advanced DMEK cases;
- know how to successfully manage DMEK nightmares (complications) both intra operative and post operative;
- be updated in the latest results and developments in advanced DMEK cases.
Your Group
The group size is limited to 10 participants per course. During the entire course our multidisciplinary team will provide advice and guidance, so you will enjoy personal coaching throughout your participation. Please note that presence of Dr Melles is not guaranteed.
In addition to teaching you the DMEK technique, we want you to have an enjoyable time in Rotterdam, one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel Top 10! On Thursday evening we will dine with you in the historic Hotel New York restaurant. After dinner, a water taxi ride will acquaint you with the city’s breathtaking aquatic side.