In vitro specular microscope perfusion of M-K- and moist chamber-stored human corneas

Human donor corneas were stored in McCarey-Kaufman (M-K) medium for 3 to 6 days; then they were mounted in the specular microscope, and the endothelial surface perfused with a glutathione-bicarbonate-Ringer solution. During storage, the corneal thickness increased 37% above an assumed normal of 0.520 mm. The corneas did not have sufficient active thinning to be accepted as viable when tested by the temperature-reversal phenomenon. Since comparable donor corneas have been used in successful penetrating keratoplasties, there must be a discrepancy between the cell viability as tested by the temperature-reversal phenomenon and clinical application.