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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
OCT Features of the Donor Area in Autologous Retinal Transplant Surgery for Macular Hole
Silvia Medina-Medina1, Abel Ramírez-Estudillo1, Sergio Rojas Juárez1
1Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Luz, IAP, Ciudad de México, México.
Abstract:
Purpose: To describe the structural features of the autologous retinal transplant donor tissue area seen on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: This observational prospective study included patients who had vitrectomy and autologous retinal graft surgery for a macular hole. OCT of the donor area was performed in the postoperative period after gas reabsorption (mean, 16.2 days ±9.8 [SD] after surgery; range, 7 to 28 days), and structural findings in the harvest area were recorded and analyzed. Results: Of the 12 eyes included in the series, most showed glial tissue or some migration of the inner nuclear layer (INL) in the donor area. Hyperreflective dots and epiretinal membranes were present in a few cases; 2 eyes showed denuded retinal epithelial pigment. Conclusions: OCT revealed changes in the donor area, predominantly filled with glial tissue, INL migration, and inflammatory signs, that mostly resolved during follow-up.

