Corneal endothelial failure could only be treated with the penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) method. While PKP successfully resolved the corneal failure, vision results after the surgery were poor - many patients required contact lenses or glasses to achieve acceptable vision afterwards. Recovery between surgeries was also long, ranging from six months to two years.

Dr. Gerrit Melles developed a new method for replacing the cornea: deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty, or DLEK. This method involved a lamellar dissection of Descemet's membrane. However, in 2004, Melles improved his previous technique to involve stripping of Descemet's membrane as opposed to dissection. His new method was called DSEK: Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty.

NIH-funded human stem cell research was approved by President Obama. This relatively recent change has allowed scientists to experiment with human stem cells, and progress further in their research towards the regrowth and creation of various parts of a human, in particular the corneal endothelium.

Scientists created an embryonic eye, using stem cells to create a retina-like-structure that can discern varying levels of light. This was an improvement over older experimentation because this retina contained pigment and nerve cells, as well as the addition of molecules found in the environment to simulate an actual eye.

By 2032, scientists will have mastered the use of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, being able to easily program them to regenerate into nearly any type of cell. This technique will allow replacing corneal endothelium cells possible, meaning any damaged cells can be regrown.