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Updated: Sep 16, 2025
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Murine Corneal Transplantation: A Model to Study the Most Common Form of Solid Organ Transplantation
Published on: November 17, 2014
9.8K
Advances in corneal transplantation.
Christopher Tay1, Harika Reddy2, Jodhbir S Mehta3,4,5
1Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Eye (London, England)
|July 4, 2025
Summary
Corneal transplantation advances, including lamellar keratoplasty techniques and femtosecond laser use, aim to overcome donor cornea shortages. Future innovations focus on bio-engineered grafts and regenerative medicine for improved vision restoration.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Corneal transplantation is crucial for vision restoration in many diseases.
- Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was the first procedure, but newer techniques like DALK, DSAEK, and DMEK are gaining prominence.
- Shortage of donor corneas and limited accessibility hinder widespread treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in corneal transplantation techniques and materials.
- To highlight innovations addressing donor tissue limitations and procedural accessibility.
- To discuss the impact of new technologies on keratoplasty outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical and recent literature on corneal transplantation.
- Analysis of emerging technologies such as bio-engineered corneas, cell-based therapies, and regenerative medicine.
- Evaluation of technological advancements like femtosecond laser (FSL) and intra-operative optical coherence tomography (iOCT).
Main Results:
- Lamellar keratoplasty techniques (DALK, DSAEK, DMEK) are increasingly replacing PKP for specific corneal pathologies.
- Bio-engineered grafts, cell-based therapies, and regenerative medicine offer potential solutions to donor cornea scarcity.
- FSL and iOCT enhance precision in keratoplasty, potentially improving surgical outcomes and reducing complications.
Conclusions:
- Corneal transplantation is evolving with advanced surgical techniques and innovative graft materials.
- Future directions emphasize regenerative medicine and technological integration to address current limitations.
- These advancements promise to enhance the effectiveness, accessibility, and outcomes of corneal transplantation for vision restoration.
