15 years of experience in eyebanking and lamellar corneal transplant preparation

 

Cornea Banking Consultancy was established by Esther van Beek.

From 2008 to 2023, she worked in the eye bank at the Netherlands Institute of Innovative Ocular Surgery (NIIOS), a period marked by significant advancements in the field of lamellar transplantation.  It was a exciting time where we pioneered in the lamellar transplant field. During her tenure, she developed the 'No-Touch' DMEK preparation technique (Groeneveld-van Beek et al., 2013) and refined the liquid bubble DMEK preparation technique (unpublished results), in addition to the development of the Bowman Layer preparation technique (Groeneveld-van Beek et al., 2016).

At NIIOS, she specialized in the surgical preparation of lamellar grafts, including manual DSEK, DMEK, and Bowman Layer techniques. By collaborating closely with surgeons, she contributed to the development of methodologies that benefited both the eye bank and surgical practices. Her inquisitive nature led her to explore all available DMEK preparation techniques as they emerged, ensuring her proficiency across the spectrum of techniques.

In addition to her research and development efforts, she actively participated in the (inter)national conferences as both an attendee and presenter. She also served as an instructor at the NIIOS Wetlabs in Rotterdam, where she trained both surgeons and eye bank professionals in DALK (Melles technique), DMEK, and Bowman Layer techniques, encompassing both preparation and some surgical procedures. She has been a member of the Dutch Ophthalmological Society (NOG) since 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

Memberships:

Scientific publications

 

- van der Star L, Vasiliauskaitė I, Oellerich S, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Ghaly M, Laouani A, Vasanthananthan K, van Dijk K, Dapena I, Melles GRJ, Kocaba V. Bowman Layer Onlay Grafting as a Minimally Invasive Treatment for the Most Challenging Cases in Keratoconus. Am J Ophthalmol. 2024 May;261:54-65

- Vasanthananthan K, Bourgonje VJA, Lie JT, Mulders-Al-Saady R, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, de Leeuw J, Miron A, Wijdh RHJ, Stoutenbeek R, Melles GRJ, Oellerich S, Kocaba V. Corneal Guttae After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty. Cornea. 2024 Feb 1;43(2):146-153

- Miron A, Sajet A, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Kok JS, Dedeci M, de Jong M, Amo-Addae V, Melles GRJ, Oellerich S, van der Wees J. Endothelial Cell Viability after DMEK Graft Preparation. Curr Eye Res. 2021 Nov;46(11):1621-1630

- Dapena I, van der Star L, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Quilendrino R, van Dijk K, Parker JS, Oellerich S, Melles GRJ. Bowman Layer Onlay Grafting: Proof-of-Concept of a New Technique to Flatten Corneal Curvature and Reduce Progression in Keratoconus. Cornea. 2021 Dec 1;40(12):1561-1566.

- Dapena I, Musayeva A, Dragnea DC, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Ni Dhubhghaill S, Parker JS,
van Dijk K, Melles GRJ. Bowman layer onlay transplantation to manage Herpes corneal scar.
Cornea 2020;39:1164-6.

- Muijzer MB, van Luijk CM, van den Bogaerdt AJ, Kruit PJ, Groeneveld-van Beek E, Melles GRJ,
Wisse RPL. Prospective evaluation of clinical outcomes between pre-cut corneal grafts
prepared using a manual or automated technique: with one-year follow-up. Acta Ophthalmol
2019;97:714-20.

- van Dijk K, Parker JS, Baydoun L, Ilyas A, Dapena I, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Melles GRJ.
Bowman layer transplantation: 5-year results. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol.
2018;256:1151-8.

- Birbal RS, Sikder S, Lie JT, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Oellerich S, Melles GRJ. Donor tissue
preparation for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK): An updated review.
Cornea 2018;37:128-35.

- Livny E, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Lie JT, Mangundap KM, Bruinsma M, Birbal RS, van der
Wees J, Melles GRJ. Minimizing graft preparation failure in Descemet membrane endothelial
keratoplasty (DMEK). Cornea 2017;36:1452-7.

- Parker J, Huls F, Cooper E, Graves P, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Lie JT, Melles GRJ. Technical
feasibility of isolated Bowman layer graft preparation by femtosecond laser: a pilot study. Eur
J Ophthalmol 2017;27:675-7.

- Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Parker J, Lie J, Bourgonje V, Ham L, van Dijk K, van der Wees J,
Melles GRJ. Donor tissue preparation for Bowman layer transplantation. Cornea
2016;35:1499-1502.

- Rodríguez-Calvo de Mora M, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Frank LE, van der Wees J, Oellerich S,
Bruinsma M, Melles GRJ. Graft storage time and donor age relate to endothelial cell density
decrease and graft adherence after Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK).
JAMA Ophthalmol 2016;134:91-4.

- Lie JT, Lam FC, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, van der Wees J, Melles GRJ. Graft preparation for
Hemi-Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (Hemi-DMEK) – A method for preparing
two endothelial grafts from a single donor cornea. Br J Ophthalmol 2016;100:420-4.

- Lie JT, Monnereau C, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, van der Wees J, Frank J, Bruinsma M, Melles
GRJ. Dehydration of corneal anterior donor tissue with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-enriched
media. Cell Tissue Bank 2015;16:399-409.

- Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Lie JT, Mangundap K, Bourgonje VJA, Bruinsma B, van der Wees J, Melles GRJ. ‘No-touch’ stripping donor tissue preparation for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Book chapter in Parekh M, Ferrari S, Ponzin D (eds.): Eye Banking – Changing Face of Corneal Transplantation. 2015:141-9.

- van Dijk K, Liarakos VS, Parker J, Ham L, Lie JT, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Melles GRJ. Bowman layer transplantation to reduce and stabilize progressive, advanced keratoconus. Ophthalmology 2015;122:909-17.

- van Dijk K, Parker J, Tong CM, Ham L, Lie J, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Melles GRJ. Midstromal isolated Bowman layer graft to reduce advanced keratoconus to postpone penetrating or deep lamellar keratoplasty. JAMA Ophthalmol 2014;132:495-501.

- Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Lie JT, van der Wees J, Bruinsma B, Melles GRJ. Standardized ‘notouch’ donor tissue preparation for DALK and DMEK: Harvesting undamaged anterior and posterior transplants from the same donor cornea. Acta Ophthalmol 2013;91:145-50.

- Bruinsma M, Lie JT, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Liarakos VS, van der Wees J, Melles GRJ. Are polymegethism, pleomorphism, and ‘poor swelling’ valid discard parameters in immediate post-mortem evaluation of human donor corneal endothelium. Cornea 2013;32:285-9.

- Lie JT, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Ham L, van der Wees J, Melles GRJ. More efficient use of donor corneal tissue with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK): two lamellar keratoplasty procedures with one donor cornea. Br J Ophthalmol 2010;94:1265-6.

 

 

Presentations

 

  • van Beek EA, Lie JT, There is more than one way to a DMEK transplant. 6th Baltic Sea Eye Conference, April 2024.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Bowman layer onlay preparation & transplantation (BLOT). EEBA, Aachen, September 2023.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Bowman layer onlay preparation & transplantation (BLOT). Cornea and Eye Banking Forum 2022, Chicago, September 2022.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Laser-assisted Bowman layer graft preparation (ePoster). World Cornea Congress, Chicago, September 2022.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. From PK to DSEK to DMEK to …? Virtual World Eye Banking Symposium 2022, online, July 2022.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek E. Effect of graft preparation techniques on clinical outcomes after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). NOG, Groningen, June 2022.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Laser-assisted Bowman layer graft preparation. ARVO, Denver, May 2022.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek E. Corneal guttae after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). EEBA Meeting, online, March 2022.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek A. Insights in Bowman layer transplantation. Annual Congress Swiss Ophthalmological Society (SOG), St. Gallen, Switzerland, August 2021.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek E. A graft’s journey: from recovery until transplantation. NIIOS Cornea Evening, online, May 2021.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Clinical outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) using corneal grafts from septic versus non-septic donors. NOG, online, March 2021.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek E. Is innovative eye banking spoiling us? NIIOS Cornea Evening, online, November 2020.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Tissues with issues: How to prevent waste of sub-optimal DMEK grafts? EEBA, Hannover, Germany, January 2020.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. In-vivo endothelial cell density decline in the early postoperative phase after DMEK. MEACO, Sweimeh (Dead Sea), Jordan. September 2019.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Multiple grafts from one donor cornea: Bowman layer and DMEK combination. MEACO, Sweimeh (Dead Sea), Jordan. September 2019.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Asymmetrical endothelial cell migration from in vitro Quarter-DMEK grafts. ASCRS, San Diego, USA. May 2019.
  • Melles GRJ, Baydoun L, Peraza-Nieves J, Dragnea D, Parker J, Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Advanced Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) (Instructional Course). ASCRS, San Diego, USA. May 2019.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Low risk of tissue contamination by following a decontamination protocol with a combined use of 0.02% chlorhexidine and 0.5% povidone-iodine. EEBA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. January 2019.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Bowman layer: The solution for progressive advanced keratoconus? (invitation) Aachener Hornhauttag, Aachen, Germany. December 2018.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EG. Wat gebeurt er na een Descemet membraan endotheliale keratoplastiek (DMEK)? Een post mortem studie. NOG. Groningen, The Netherlands, March 2018.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EG. What happens after Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK): a post mortem study. Coimbra, Portugal, January 2018.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA Bowman layer transplantation for advanced keratoconus: graft preparation and clinical outcomes. ASCRS. Los Angeles, USA, May 2017.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. DMEK preparation by eye bank specialists prevents donor tissue waste and reduces the waiting list for keratoplasty. NOG congress. Maastricht, The Netherlands, March 2017.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Bowman layer transplantation for advanced keratoconus: graft preparation and clinical outcomes (ePoster). Winter-ESCRS. Maastricht, The Netherlands, February 2017.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. No-touch DMEK, Hemi DMEK and Bowman layer transplant preparation. Hannover, Germany, November 2016 (invitation).
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Sajet A, Mangundap KM, Lie JT, van der Wees J, Melles GRJ. Multiple grafts from one donor button: organisation, traceability and preparation methods (ePoster). Copenhagen, Denmark, September 2016.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek E. Precut tissues for DMEK-PRO (instructional course). EuCornea. Copenhagen, Denmark, September 2016 (invitation).
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA, Lie JT, Mangundap KM, Sajet A, van der Wees J, Melles GRJ. Multiple grafts from one donor button: organisation, traceability and preparation methods. Aarhus, Denmark, January 2016.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Increasing the pool of graft tissue by implementing the Hemi-DMEK technique. Venice, Italy, January 2015.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Stromal Bowman layer implantation: an alternative method to prevent further progression in advanced keratoconus. Leipzig, Germany, September 2014.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Standardized Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) – Technique and current results. Leipzig, Germany, September 2014.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Stromal Bowman layer implantation: an alternative method to prevent further progression in advanced keratoconus. Maastricht, the Netherlands, March 2014.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek EA. Stromal Bowman layer implantation: an alternative method to prevent further progression in advanced keratoconus. Lausanne, Switzerland, January 2014.
  • Groeneveld-van Beek E. Long-term results on endothelial cell density (ECD) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). NOG. Groningen, Netherlands, March 2013.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Mid-term results on visual acuity and stability after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). EEBA. Zagreb, Croatia, January 2013.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA. Standardized ‘no-touch’ donor tissue preparation for DALK and DMEK:  Harvesting undamaged anterior and posterior transplants from the same donor cornea. NOG. Groningen, Netherlands, March 2012.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA, Dapena I, Lie JT, Ham L, Melles GRJ. Bowman layer transplantation. EEBA. Rotterdam, The Netherlands, January 2012.
  • Groeneveld- van Beek EA, Lie J, van der Wees J. More Efficient Use of Donor Corneal Tissue: Two Lamellar Keratoplasty Procedures with One Donor Cornea. EEBA. Freiburg, Germany, January 2011.