Preservation of Viable Corneal Tissue

Abstract

Advances in corneal transplantation have created a demand for increasing numbers of donor corneas. The organization of eye banks has aided in overcoming this need, but the rigid time requirements placed on donor corneas have hampered efforts to utilize all of the donor material available, and to supply it to remote areas. Dead tissue can be used for lamellar transplants and can be stored by dehydration and other techniques, but most patients require penetrating keratoplasties and, for this, the endothelium must be alive. The development of a practical method for preserving corneal cells alive, for extended periods, at low temperatures, will eliminate the time requirement and enable more tissue to be used for penetrating keratoplasty both in this country, and in areas where corneal tissue is now unavailable. In addition, studies of donor endothelium in bank eyes indicate a high proportion of abnormalities in the older age group, and tissue