title: Polarization of human donor corneas.
abstract: To investigate the de-orientation effect of DSAEK grafts by observing the cross patterns and polarization power of human donor corneas using a polarizing device (Lumaxis(®)). Forty human donor corneas were placed in small petri-plates with epithelial side facing up. Polarizing power (arbitrary unit) and crosses were monitored and recorded by the software. The tissue was marked at 'Superior' position to ensure that the base and the polarizer are in alignment with each other after the cut. The anterior lamellar cut was performed using microkeratome. The lenticule was placed back in the same position as marked to mimic the alignment. The tissue was further rotated by 45° ensuring that the base of the cornea and the polarizer were in alignment. The polarization power and 'crosses' were identified at each step. The average of forty corneas from pre-cut to post-45° angular change showed statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in terms of polarizing power. The cross-shaped pattern deformed and lost the sharpness towards 45° angle. However, multiple variances in terms of 'cross-patterns' were observed throughout the study. Lumaxis(®) was able to determine the worst quality tissue in terms of polarization (no black zone and crosses). Despite the quality of cross pattern which can be used as an additional objective parameter to evaluate the optical properties of the corneal tissue, this preliminary study needs to be further justified in terms of clinical relevance whether polarization changes with oriented or de-oriented grafts have any effects and consequences on the visual acuity.
authors.affiliation: International Center for Ocular Physiopathology (ICOP), The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174, Mestre, Venice, Italy. mohit.parekh@fbov.it.
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.affiliation: International Center for Ocular Physiopathology (ICOP), The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174, Mestre, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruzza
authors.affiliation: International Center for Ocular Physiopathology (ICOP), The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174, Mestre, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: International Center for Ocular Physiopathology (ICOP), The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174, Mestre, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvalaio
authors.affiliation: International Center for Ocular Physiopathology (ICOP), The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174, Mestre, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elbadawy
authors.affiliation: International Center for Ocular Physiopathology (ICOP), The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174, Mestre, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ponzin
authors.affiliation: Phronema srl, via Junipero Serra, 19, 70125, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lipari
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000379:methods*; D014019:Tissue Donors
keywords: Cornea; Eye bank; Isogyres; Lumaxis®; Polarizer