Detachment of the host's Descemet membrane inadvertently occurred while removing the decompensated graft in a patient undergoing rekeratoplasty. The membrane was purposefully left intact and the new graft sutured on top of it. In this way, opening of the anterior chamber was avoided and the operation completed as an 'extraocular' procedure. The graft and the membrane have remained clear during 3 years of follow-up.