Intermediate-term corneal storage for penetrating keratoplasty

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Transplantation immunology
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• Penetrating keratoplasty is a common surgical procedure for corneal blindness.
• Graft failure, particularly early edema, remains a significant challenge.
• Donor corneal tissue preservation is critical for successful outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of modified Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TC-199) for preserving donor corneal tissue.
• To assess the impact of TC-199 storage on early graft clarity and long-term graft survival in penetrating keratoplasty.
• To investigate the relationship between endothelial cell viability and graft outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-seven penetrating keratoplasties were performed using human donor corneas.
• Donor corneal tissue was stored in a modified TC-199 medium.
• Graft clarity and edema were assessed postoperatively.
• Graft survival was monitored over an average follow-up of 3.7 months.

Main Results:

• 98% (56/57) of corneal grafts were clear on postoperative day one.
• Grafts maintained clarity for at least three weeks.
• Only four additional graft failures occurred during the follow-up period.
• Significantly reduced incidence of early graft edema was observed.

Conclusions:

• Modified TC-199 medium enhances the viability of corneal endothelium.
• Prolonged endothelial viability in TC-199 contributes to improved early graft clarity and reduced edema.
• This storage method shows promise for improving outcomes in penetrating keratoplasty.