Endothelial cell analysis of corneas from donor eyes with an intraocular lens: a comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
Many eyes are received from patients who have undergone cataract surgery. Few data document the endothelial cell characteristics in these donor eyes, which have previously been disqualified for transplantation. We compared the endothelial characteristics of the corneas from eyes with intraocular lenses (IOLs) with a group of matching controls.


METHODS
The corneal endothelial characteristics, including cell density, polymegethism, and pleomorphism, were prospectively obtained in 15 corneas from eyes with IOL implants and compared with 17 phakic control eyes.


RESULTS
The mean cell densities (+/-SD) were 2,495 +/- 438 cells/mm2 for the eyes with implants and 2,576 +/- 264 cells/mm2 for the controls. The mean coefficient of variation was 0.307 +/- 0.04 and 0.323 +/- 0.04 for IOL and control group, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups (t test, power = 0.97 in detecting a mean difference of 20%).


CONCLUSIONS
Many eyes with IOLs have endothelial cell densities comparable to those of phakic eyes. A decision to use specific corneas should be made individually based on endothelial cell analysis. Previous ocular surgery may not disqualify a corneal donor.
Johnston
R H
RH
University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology, Ontario, Canada.
Hasany
S
S
Rootman
D S
DS
D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002452:Cell Count; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D014019:Tissue Donors