Use of glycerol-preserved corneas for corneal transplants

This study was carried out to see the results of glycerol-preserved cornea (GPC) in emergency situation when fresh corneal tissue was not available. The aim was to study the outcome of corneal transplantation using GPC.

This was a retrospective study. The medical records of all the patients were reviewed, who underwent keratoplasty using "GPC" during the period from October 2011 to December 2015. The indication of keratoplasty, duration of preservation of the GPC, and its outcome were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were applied.

Out of the 222 penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) performed over the study period, the GPC was used in 34 patients (males = 31, 91.2%) aged 15-74 years. Therapeutic keratoplasty was performed in all cases in this cohort except one in which tectonic keratoplasty was done. The primary indication of PKP (91.2%) was infectious keratitis. Of these, 20 (64.5%) patients presented with perforated corneal ulcers. Post-PKP, ocular anatomy was preserved in 91.2%, and visual acuity of perception of light positive and accurate projection of rays in all the quadrants was obtained in 76.5% cases. Complications included glaucoma (n = 12, 35.1%), phthisis bulbi (n = 2, 5.9%), and graft reinfection and endophthalmitis after PKP (n = 1, 2.9%). The secondary procedure post-GPC and PKP were trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (n = 7, 58.3%) in patients not controlled on topical antiglaucoma medication. Optical keratoplasty was performed in (n = 3) 8.8% patients and triple procedure in (n = 2) 5.8% patients with good visual acuity postprocedure.

Acellular GPCs are useful in emergency keratoplasty to avoid loss of vision and can save the eye.