The Clinical Evaluations of the Penetrating Keratoplasty with Imported Donor Corneas

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the preoperative donor conditions and surgical outcomes of the penetrating keratoplasty with imported donor corneas. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 34 eyes of 34 patients who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty with imported donor cornea between February 2002 and June 2003 in Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul. RESULTS: Mean donor age was 49.68 years and preoperative mean endothelial cell density of imported donor corneas was 2, 830 cells/mm2, and was above 2, 500 cells/mm2 in 30 eyes (88.24%). Average death to preservation time was 8.8 hours and death to surgery time was 5.2 days. All cases were compatible with surgical success without complications related to donor cornea at 2 months after keratoplasty. Five eyes showed irreVersible corneal opacity. 4 of which resulted from graft rejection. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity, endothelial cell loss rate, survival rate were satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: Penetrating keratoplasty with imported donor corneas can be a safe and effective treatment for Koreans who have been waiting for penetrating keratoplasty for a long time.