Variables in McCarey-Kaufman corneal storage. Their effect on corneal graft success

The results of 297 penetrating keratoplasties performed over a four-year period were reviewed retrospectively and correlated with eyebank data to determine the effect of the following corneal storage variables on corneal graft clarity: (1) donor age; (2) death-to-preservation interval; (3) death-to-surgery interval; and (4) eyebank grading of donor corneal tissue. The death-to-preservation interval (including a group of corneas preserved 12-19 hours after death) and death-to-surgery interval up to four days had no effect on corneal graft success. Transplants performed with corneas from younger donors had a higher likelihood of success than grafts from older donors (less than 35 years vs greater than 35 years, P less than 0.01; less than 50 years vs greater than 50 years, P less than 0.005). Transplants using tissue rated excellent or good by the eyebank were more successful than those using tissue rated fair (P less than 0.005). In both instances, these results were most apparent in patients believed to have a good prognosis for graft success. Thirteen cases (4.3%) of primary donor failure were identified. None of the corneal storage variables studied could be correlated with primary donor failure.