In situ versus whole-globe harvesting of corneal tissue from remote donor sites: effects on initial tissue quality.
OBJECTIVE
There are 2 methods of corneal tissue procurement currently in widespread use: in situ extraction of the corneal button directly to preservation media and whole-globe enucleation of eyes with removal of the button to preservation media at a later time. This study evaluates the effects of these 2 procurement procedures on the initial quality of donor corneal tissue.


METHODS
Slit-lamp examination results and endothelial cell counts were compared for a total of 468 donor corneas harvested at 2 remote locations: one where in situ procurement was practiced and the other that used whole-globe enucleation procedures.


RESULTS
In both univariate and multivariate analysis, in situ corneas were found to have a lower incidence of moderate or severe haze and folds in Descemet membrane. No differences in mean endothelial cell counts were noted between the 2 populations of donated tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
In situ procurement of corneal tissue results in higher initial corneal tissue quality than whole-globe procedures.
Rootman
Dan B
DB
Department of Ophthalmology, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
Wankiewicz
Ellen
E
Sharpen
Linda
L
Baxter
Stephanie A
SA
D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology; D005123:Eye; D005125:Eye Banks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014021:Tissue Preservation; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement
D003470:Culture Media