title: Preservation of the Corneal Epithelium in Different Corneal Storage Media.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With increasing time, epithelial defects (EDs) develop in virtually all corneas stored in corneal storage media. Optisol GS and Life 4°C are commonly available intermediate storage media used for corneal storage before keratoplasty. Epithelial preservation capabilities of Life 4°C and Optisol GS are compared in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine pairs of human corneas were harvested, and 1 cornea of each pair was stored in Optisol GS and the other was stored in Life 4°C. The size and frequency of EDs of corneas stored in Optisol GS and Life 4°C were measured over time within the chambers using a backlit approach for 14 to 17 days of storage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At poststorage days 4, 8, and 12, there were no statistical differences in the percent change in the area of the ED between both groups. Of corneas without initial EDs, 6 of 7 (85.7%) stored in Optisol GS and 5 of 8 (62.5%) stored in Life 4°C developed an ED by the end of the assessment period. At the end of the observation period, there was no significant difference in the change in the percent area of the ED between corneas stored in Optisol GS and Life 4°C [4.3% ± 6.6% and 2.1% ± 2.6%, respectively (P = 0.38)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optisol GS and Life 4°C storage media did not significantly differ in their abilities to preserve the corneal epithelium of the donor tissue for up to 17 days. Most corneas stored in both cold-storage media developed EDs within the 14-day observation period.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; and †SightLife, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Nishant G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.forename: Caroline K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hoover
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Bennie H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jeng
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000494:pharmacology; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010781:Photography; D066167:Slit Lamp; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D045424:Complex Mixtures; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D003911:Dextrans; D005839:Gentamicins; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; C075736:Optisol