title: Preparation and use of human sclera grafts in ophthalmic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human sclera grafts are widely used in ophthalmic surgery. Mainly they are used for coating orbital implants after enucleation.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the preparation of sclera grafts, all other tissues must be removed from the donor bulb including the retina, choroid, cornea, corpus vitreum and lens. The sclera graft can be stored dry or in ethanol until transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The processing of sclera grafts in an eye bank is easy to handle compared to the complexity of cornea transplants. The common way is dry storing for at least 1 year. Thus, the demand for sclera grafts can be covered without a lot of trouble.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Töteberg-Harms
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bredehorn-Mayr
mesh_terms: D005125:Eye Banks / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D009926:Organ Preservation; D012590:Sclera / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting