Corneal function after storage in commercial eye bank media

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Preservation
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Corneal storage media are crucial for maintaining tissue viability before transplantation.
• Different commercial media (K-Sol, M-K, CSM, Dexsol) are used, but their long-term efficacy varies.
• Assessing endothelial function post-storage is vital for predicting graft survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of four commercial corneal storage media (K-Sol, M-K, CSM, Dexsol).
• To evaluate the impact of storage duration (3-12 days) on corneal deturgescence and ion transport capacity.
• To determine which medium best preserves corneal endothelial function for transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Rabbit corneas were stored in K-Sol, M-K, CSM, or Dexsol for 3, 6, 9, or 12 days.
• Post-storage deturgescence was measured.
• Corneal swelling rate in the presence of ouabain (20 microM) was assessed to estimate active ion transport capacity.

Main Results:

• All media showed decreased deturgescence with increased storage time, most notably in K-Sol.
• K-Sol and M-K exhibited faster swelling rates in ouabain compared to Dexsol and CSM.
• Dexsol maintained higher ion transport capacity (92% at 3 days, 78% at 6 days, 44% at 12 days) than other media.

Conclusions:

• Dexsol appears to be a superior corneal storage medium for preserving endothelial function over extended periods.
• Storage duration significantly affects corneal deturgescence and ion transport capacity.
• The findings have implications for optimizing corneal preservation protocols and improving transplant outcomes.