تمت المراجعة الطبية بواسطة د. أحمد شعراوي، استشاري جراحة القرنية والليزك — آخر تحديث: أبريل 2026
US-trained corneal specialist · 5,000+ corneal surgeries · Cairo referral centre
DMEK, DSAEK, DALK & PK — all techniques under one roof
Select a date and time — Dr. Shaarawy will review your scans and recommend the right procedure.
The right procedure depends on which corneal layers are affected. Dr. Shaarawy will confirm after examining your scans.
زراعة القرنية البطانية
Thinnest graft available — fastest visual recovery for Fuchs dystrophy and endothelial failure.
Learn more →Reliableزراعة القرنية البطانية الجزئية
Larger donor disc with excellent outcomes — the established standard for endothelial disease.
Learn more →Full corneaزراعة القرنية الكاملة
Full-thickness corneal replacement — indicated for advanced scars, keratoconus, and stromal disease.
Learn more →Get a personalised price estimate in under 2 minutes — in your currency.
تقدير مجاني
احصل على تقدير سعر شخصي في أقل من دقيقتين — بدون أي التزام
سنحدد تلقائياً نوع الجراحة الأنسب بناءً على تشخيصك
Lecturer at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Corneal Surgery Consultant. Cornea clinical & research fellow at Devers Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon (under Prof. Mark Terry). First surgeon to perform S-DMEK in Egypt and the Arab world. Published novel DMEK and DALK techniques at the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
+20
years
of corneal surgery experience
🇺🇸
Devers
Cornea Fellowship — Oregon, USA
+5,000
surgeries
documented corneal & eye operations
AAO
published
Smart Splash & Graft Exchange DALK techniques
+5,000
corneal surgeries
90%+
5-yr graft survival
+20
years experience
+30
countries — patients
4.9/5
patient rating
Comprehensive slit-lamp exam, corneal topography (Pentacam), endothelial cell count, and anterior segment OCT. We confirm the diagnosis and choose the right procedure for you.
Donor tissue is ordered from an accredited eye bank. Systemic health is optimised. You receive detailed written instructions for the day of surgery.
Performed under local or general anaesthesia. DMEK/DSAEK: typically 45–90 minutes. PK: 60–90 minutes. You go home the same day or the next morning.
Face-down positioning (DMEK/DSAEK) for the first 24–48 hours helps graft adherence. Anti-rejection drops begin immediately. Vision is blurry but improving.
Visits at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, then annually. Final vision typically stabilises by 3–6 months. Lifelong anti-rejection drops required.
S.M.
Saudi Arabia · DMEK
“After years of blurry vision from Fuchs dystrophy, DMEK gave me 20/25 vision within three months. Dr. Shaarawy's team was professional throughout.”
K.A.
Iraq · PK
“Advanced keratoconus had taken my vision to counting fingers. Six months post-PK I'm reading without glasses again. Life-changing surgery.”
R.E.
Egypt · DSAEK
“I travelled to Cairo specifically for Dr. Shaarawy after reading about his DMEK experience. The outcome exceeded every expectation.”
Initials only — full names withheld for patient privacy.
Book a consultation with Dr. Shaarawy — your scans determine the right procedure and timeline
Both procedures treat endothelial disease (Fuchs dystrophy, bullous keratopathy), but outcomes diverge. Figures below are drawn from peer-reviewed research in Ophthalmology, Cochrane reviews, and the EBAA registry.
Data: Stuart AJ et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018
Bottom line: DMEK reduces rejection risk by roughly 4× vs DSAEK over 5 years — the main reason it is the global gold standard for endothelial disease.
| Criterion | DMEK | DSAEK |
|---|---|---|
Graft thickness DMEK transfers only Descemet's membrane + endothelium | ≈ 15 μm | ≈ 100–150 μm |
Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) Thinner graft adds no stromal bulk | 20/25 median | 20/30 – 20/40 |
Visual recovery time Thinner graft integrates faster | 1 – 3 months | 3 – 6 months |
5-year immune rejection risk Less antigenic tissue → weaker immune response | 1 – 3% | 7 – 12% |
5-year graft survival | 95 – 97% | 90 – 93% |
Surgical difficulty This is why DMEK is concentrated in a few centres — Dr. Shaarawy was the first to perform it in Egypt | High — requires expertise | Moderate |
Suitability for complex eyes DSAEK handles silicone oil or uneven cornea better | Limited | Excellent choice |
Estimated cost in Cairo Difference is small — the decision is clinical first | from $3,000 | from $3,500 |
DMEK transfers only Descemet's membrane + endothelium
Thinner graft adds no stromal bulk
Thinner graft integrates faster
Less antigenic tissue → weaker immune response
This is why DMEK is concentrated in a few centres — Dr. Shaarawy was the first to perform it in Egypt
DSAEK handles silicone oil or uneven cornea better
Difference is small — the decision is clinical first
Clinical note: the final DMEK vs DSAEK decision depends on topography, endothelial cell count, and corneal status — not on aggregate figures alone. Dr. Shaarawy recommends the right technique after examination.
Everything you need to know before deciding on corneal transplant surgery
