Evaluation of donor corneas preserved in a new cold storage medium with antimycotic tablet

Introduction: A new cold storage medium (ECS) with an effective antimycotic concentration, fast dissolving tablet was designed to prevent yeast contamination of donor corneas intended for transplantation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate endothelial cell density (ECD), and morphology of donor corneas stored in ECS medium with antimycotic tablet at 4°C for up to 17 days.

Material and methods: 12 donor corneas were procured and evaluated according to standard procedures of Monza Eye Bank, Italy. Tissues not suitable for transplantation were transferred in ECS immediately after dissolution of the antimycotic tablet (AL.CHI.MI.A. S.R.L.). Corneas stored in EUSOL-C (AL.CHI.MI.A. S.R.L.) served as control. ECD was evaluated by Keratoanalyzer, after 10 and 17 days. After 17 days, endothelial cell morphology and mortality were determined according to Stocker method, and epithelial cell integrity and corneal transparency were evaluated using a slit lamp.

Results: After 17 days of cold storage in ECS medium, ECD decreased of 200 cells/mm² on average. Increase in mortality and polymorphism was similar to control. Slit lamp analysis showed comparable corneal transparency and epithelial integrity in new medium and control.

Conclusions: The new ECS cold storage medium with antimycotic tablet exhibited an excellent biocompatibility with donor corneas after corneal storage for up to 17 days.