Outcomes of corneal transplantation using donor corneas retrieved from patients with chronic kidney disease

To report the outcomes of corneal transplantation utilizing corneas retrieved from donors with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Outcomes of corneal transplantation (optical PK and EK) performed from Jan 2018 to Dec 2018 utilizing donor corneas retrieved from CKD patients was performed retrospectively.

Of the total of 233 donor corneas retrieved from CKD, 135 (57.9%) were utilized for transplantation after the routine screening protocol of the eye bank. Mean age of the donors was 56.2 ± 13.5 years. The mean endothelial cell density on specular microscopy of the donor corneas used for optical PK was 2685.7 ± 377.6 cells/mm² (range, 2028-3448 cells/mm²) and for EK was 2731.7 ± 189.1 cells/mm² (range, 2380-3194 cells/mm²). The overall primary graft failure rate was 5.1%. All grafts except 1, cleared in the PK group. In the EK group (6 DMEK and 16 DSAEK), 1 patient had a complete graft detachment and another 1 had a primary graft failure after DMEK.

The donor corneas retrieved from chronic kidney disease patients are safe and suitable for optical keratoplasty provided they meet the criteria for transplantation.