Long-term survival of cryopreserved corneal endothelium

Corneas of five patients who received cryopreserved penetrating grafts 15 years previously were evaluated by regional specular microscopy and computer-assisted morphometric analysis. This technique quantitates changes in cell size and shape as well as cell number. Comparisons were made with five eyes in four patients 15 years after penetrating keratoplasty utilizing fresh grafts. In three patients, fresh and frozen tissue were transplanted in the same host. These examinations showed no difference in structure or function comparing cryopreserved tissue with fresh donor tissue.