CORNEAL PRESERVATION &
STORAGE
DR.REKHA.
Lions Eye hospital
BANGALORE
IMPORTANCE OF STORAGE
SUCCESS OF PENENTRATING
KERATOPLASTY
DEPEND UPON CORNEAL
ENDOTHELIAL INTEGRITY.
CORNEAL STORAGE SYSTEM
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AIM
To maintain the endothelial viability &
integrity.
Prevent corneal autolysis during storage
Long term corneal storage.
HISTORY
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First corneal preservation.
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1911 Mgitot in J.A.M.A.
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Stored cornea in Hemolyzed blood serum at
5-7deg.centigrade.
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Cornea viable for2days
STORAGE TYPES
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SHORT-4deg.C(days)
Moist chamber(1day),M.K.Media(2-4days)
INTERMEDIATE-14days- 4deg.C(wks)
K-Sol, Dexsol,OptisolGS,Procell, Eusol-C
LONG(months)
EuropeanOrgan culture-120days(37deg.C)
Eurosol-31deg.C-28days(New)
Cryoprev.-Unlimited-(-80degC)
MOIST CHAMBER METHOD
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Filatov &Castroviejo.
Whole globe is stored in a sterile jar.
Jar has saline Humidification.
Temp of 4degrees C.
Popular untill 1970.
Simple & in- expensive.
Grafting on emergency basis.
McCAREY&KUFMAN
STORAGE
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Corneo-scleral excision is necessary&
immersed with endothelial side up.
Contains
Tc199,dextran-40 1%, PH7.0-7.5,Osmolality
295=355 & gentamycin sulphate75-150
micro gm/ml ,HEPES as buffer.
Phenol red as indicator.
Scheduling of surgery
STORAGE MEDIA
K-SOL: Tc 199,MEM&Earles media,
HEPES,Gentamicin,Chondroitin
sulphate2.5% .
1988 proprionibacteria contamination
DEXOL: MEM, 1.35%Chondrotin
Sulphate, 1mM Sodium pyruvate,
1mM non- essential aminoacids,
Antioxidants, 1%dextran40.
OPTISOL.G.S.
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Introduced in 1991
Contents
MEM, 1.35%Chondrotin
Sulphate, 1mMSodiumpyruvate,1mM
non-essential aminoacids, Antioxidants,
1%dextran40,ATP,Iron,cholestrol,Lhydroxyproline,Vitamine,2antibioticsGenticyn,Stepomycin.
Expensive
EUSOL-C
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Store at 4deg.C
Storage time 14days, SIMILAR TO DEXOL
CONTENTS
Dextran,Sodium Piruvate,Glucose,Essential
&non-essential aminoacids, mineral salts,
Vitamins, Gentamin, hepesbuffer,
Bicarbonate, Phenol Red.
FUNCTIONS OF CONTENTS
BASE MEDIA
a)Tissue-culture199aminoacids,salts,buffer&energy to support
life.
b)Minimum Essential Media(MEM) with
Earles salt- matches natural salts &buffers
of human tissue,electrolites similar to
aqueous
FUNCTIONS OF CONTENTS
BUFFER
HEPES(N-2-hydroxyethyl-piperazine-N2ethane-sulfonic acid)
-used for cultivation of sensitive mammalian
cells
-provides optimal physiological Ph in the
range7-7.2
COMMON FEATURES
OF MEDIA
ANTIBIOTIC
Gentamicin only /&Streptomycin
DEXTRAN
Polysaccharide,negatively charged.
Prevents tissue swelling.
Used alone does not provide sufficient tissue
stability & viability for extended storage.
COMMON FEATURES
OF MEDIA
CHONDROTIN SULFATE
Polysaccharide,negatively charged
Endothelial integrity&acts as a osmotic
agent.Superior to dextran.Longer storage
time
ENRICHED
Various salts,aminoacids essential &nonessential,vit.,phosphates &antioxidents to
enhance cell & tissue viability & health during
storage.
COMMON MEDIA FEATURES
ATP precursors--> Provide energy for
pumping function.
Anti-Oxidents--->Neutralize metabolic
waste,maintain DNS synthesis
Vitamins-->Provides additional nutritional
cell supplements.
Sodium Piruvate&Glucose--> Energy supply
Colour Phenol Red-->Visual aid for pH
indication.
CHECK MEDIA
The cornea which is stored in
MKmedia,Dexol,optisolGS.Thefollowing
parameters to be checked before using
Intact seal,Expiry date,Turbity, Colour (rose
red) ,precipitates & FB.
COLOUR CHANGE INDICATES
Yellow-- Bacterial contamination.
Red--- Unacceptable Ph.
Cloudy-- Contamination
Ph COLOUR REFERENCE
CHART
7.00

7.25
7.50
contimanation
PROCELL
MEM,1.35%chondrotin sulphate,1mM
sodium pyruvate1mM,Non-essential
aminoacids,Antioxidants,Dextran40,
Humen insulin10mic.g/ml & Human
epidermal growth factor(hEGF10ng/ml) to
improve long term endothelial survival after
PKP
.(experiments have not proved it, opth1994 feb101(2)252-9 LassJH et all)
ORGAN CULTURE
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1936,by Archer & Trevor-Roper.
Being used since1974.
Refrigeration not required.
Complicated,expensive & well trained
microbiologist.
EUROPEAN ORGAN CULTURE
31-37deg.C, EMEM, MEM, IMDM ,
HEPES, NaHCO3,Peni,Strep,Ampo-B,
BOVINE SERUM 2-10ML,Dextran4-10%
ORGAN CULTURE
contents
Eagles media,Earles salt with out Lglutamine,L-glutamine1%final
conc.,Decomlemented calf serum10%final
conc.Penicilllin 100units/ml,,
Gentamicin100microgram/ml.
AmphotericianB 0.25% microgram/ml.
TISSUE CULTURE MEDIA
EUROSOL
New
Duration of storage 28days.
Temp 31deg.C.
Better then the European culture media.
Maintains intact endothelium, epithelium
& Keratocyte.
ORGAN CULTURE
ADVANTAGES:Endothelial integrity
120days,Epithelial integrity35days,Culture
report prior to transplantation,stored at
4deg,centi.
DISADVANTAGES:Cornea thickens with
time,Microbial contamination, Complicated
expensive techniques, Greater loss of
endothelial afterPK.
CRYOPRESERVATION
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Kaufman &Capella.1954
Cornea is stored in Liquid Nitrogen with
DimethylSulfoxide(DMSO).
DMSO,Prevents intracellular damage by ice
crystals.
Not a procedure used.Holds a lot of
research interest.
CRYOPRESERVATION
ADVANTAGES:Long-term storage at80deg.C.
DISADVANTAGES:Technically
difficult,Limited tissue tolerance to freezthaw. Rapid thaw at 37 deg.C.
 1964
 18months
 Tissue strored in Liquid nitrogen at --197deg C
 At the time of thawing the cial containing cornea is placed
in water bath at temp of 60dec C at 1min.
 Trained techiques for Freezing & thawing
GLYCERINE PRESERVATION
Patch graft or Lamellar Keraoplasty.
Corneo-scleral button.
100%glycerine.
Enothelium is nonviable
Use with in 1 year.
Stored at room temp.
NOTE
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HYPOTHERMIC (CS+Hyperkalaemic)
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Storage 2wks,epithelial not well preserved,not
used
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ORGAN CULTURE
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At one time predominating in Europe
Organ culture storage-4wks
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CRYOPRESERVATION
Not used, tissure strored for emergency use
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FUTURE
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Improve endothelial cell layer viability
&compact stroma.
Maintain Keratocyte viability.
Reduce corneal autolysis during storage.
Thin cornea in spite of long time storage.
No contamenation
Easy to use & transport
Inexpensive.
Thank you