Routine evaluation of endothelium in human donor corneas.
Specular microscopy allows a direct evaluation of the corneal endothelium in intact donor eyes. It is therefore superior to previous methods for assessing donor material for penetrating keratoplasties. In a study of 278 eyes (139 donors) 226 could be examined by specular microscopy without any preparatory major manipulations. Twenty-four pairs and 12 single eyes (27%) of the 226 corneas were considered not suitable for grafts according to their morphologic endothelial changes. The discarded eyes were found all normal at conventional slit-lamp examination. Specular microscopy of the endothelium was not possible in 52 eyes as the corneal swelling was already too advanced.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004727:Endothelium; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D014019:Tissue Donors