Changes in central corneal thickness of preserved corneas over time measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To measure central corneal thickness (CCT) and investigate serial changes in CCT, using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) on corneas in storage medium.


METHODS
Between July and August 2006, 10 human corneoscleral discs from 5 donors between 19 and 57 years of age were obtained. Corneoscleral rims were excised and were transferred to Optisol-GS (Bausch & Lomb, Irvine, CA). After preservation, AS-OCT (Visante OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec) was performed on all corneoscleral discs to detect serial changes in CCT. The corneas were measured with AS-OCT at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 hours and then at 1, 2, 3, and 4 days after preservation.


RESULTS
The mean of the baseline CCT measurements obtained with the ultrasound pachymeter was 632.7 microm. The average CCT on AS-OCT decreased to 534 microm in the first day of preservation. As time proceeded, the CCT of each cornea generally decreased. CCT decreased significantly between 30 minutes and 1 hour after preservation (P = 0.004). Also, CCT changes in the interval from preservation to 30 minutes showed a greater decline than during other intervals. Therefore, the most significant change in CCT occurred in the first hour after preservation.


CONCLUSIONS
AS-OCT offers a fast easy method for evaluating human donor corneas for corneal thickness and structural changes without the risk of bacterial contamination or mechanical damage.
Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Chul Young
CY
Choi
Dong Ju
DJ
Youm
Myoung Joon
MJ
Kim
Hungwon
H
Tchah
D000328:Adult; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014021:Tissue Preservation; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000592:standards; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult