Analysis of Donor Eye Contamination

ABSTRACT

We evaluated sex and age distribution, cause of death, death to enucleation time and contamination and viral (HBs Ag) infection of 211 donor eyes which were obtained from Central Eye Bank at St. Mary's Hospital from April 1, 1990 to September 30, 1991. 1. In sex and age distribution, 112 (53.1 %) donors were male, and 121 (57.3%) donors were above 61 years of age. The age group from 71 to 80 years was the most common (47 donors; 22.3%). 2. The most common cause of death was respiratory disease (75 donors; 35.6%), and then circulatory disease (53 donors; 25.1 %), tumor (35 donors; 16.6%) and infectious disease ( 29 donors; 13.7%). 3. 197 (93.4%) donor eyes were required within 6 hours from death to enucleation. 4. The conjunctival and limbal cultures of 211 donor eyes which were irrigated by 0.3% gentamicin eyedrop solution after extraction were positive in 56 eyes (26.5%). 5. The most prevailing cultured organism was Staphylococcus aureus (14 eyes; 25.0%). 6. Hepatitis B surface antigen in aqueous humor of all donor eyes was negative.