Eye preservation tectonic graft using glycerol-preserved donor cornea

To report the surgical outcome of tectonic graft using glycerol-preserved donor corneas to treat perforated keratitis.

The medical records were reviewed of all patients treated for perforated keratitis using glycerol-preserved corneas at a single institution between 1 July 2004 and 31 June 2010. The clinical features, precipitating factors, adjuvant therapies, and therapeutic outcomes were analyzed. Success was defined as re-epithelialization of the ocular surface without evisceration.

Fourteen eyes from 14 patients (6 male and 8 female) were included. Age ranged from 58 to 84 years (average, 70.71 ± 8.52 years) and the follow-up time ranged from 7 to 56 months (mean, 25.35 ± 16.84 months). The culture results showed five bacterial infections, five cases of fungal keratitis, and one mixed infection; the culture results were negative for three patients. Satisfactory anatomical integrity was obtained in eight grafts (57.14%) that healed with neovascularization. Six grafts (48.85%) showed delayed re-epithelialization and were repaired with conjunctival flaps to maintain ocular surface integrity. Three patients developed secondary glaucoma and received trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation. Thirteen patients had satisfactory anatomical integrity without evisceration or exenteration, while one patient received evisceration at 39-month follow-up because of intractable glaucoma.

Glycerol-preserved donor corneas combined with anterior vitrectomy with or without conjunctival flaps may be effective substitutes for evisceration surgery in patients with perforated keratitis.