Abstract
Purpose :
The aim of the study was to compare eye bank donor corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) after storage in Optisol GS or Life4°C solutions.
Methods :
A retrospective analysis of a donor database from the Saving Sight Eye Bank was performed. The data included 24,581 donated eye bank corneas from 2011 through 2017 stored in Optisol GS or Life4°C solutions. The primary outcome of interest was ECD. Factors that were analyzed included donor past medical history and tissue characteristics. Analysis was completed with logistic and linear regressions.
Results :
22,178 (90.2%) donor corneas were stored in Life4°C and 2,403 (9.8%) were stored in Optisol GS. From 2011 to 2016, Life4°C was used to store 96.0% of donor corneas, however in 2017, the eye bank switched to Optisol GS to store 98.1% of donor corneas. A statistically, although not clinically, significant difference in donor age existed between the Life4°C and Optisol GS groups (56 vs. 57 years respectively, p=.006). There was no statistically significant difference in gender distribution between Life4°C and Optisol GS groups (38% vs. 39% female respectively, p=0.42). 86% of donors were phakic in both groups with no statistically significant difference (p=0.59). Donor corneas were stored in Life4°C for an average of 2.2 days and in Optisol GS for 3.6 days (p=0.76). Mean ECD after storage in Life4°C was 2,446 cell/mm2 compared to 2,629 cell/mm2 after storage in Optisol GS. After adjusting for age, time in storage media, and phakic status, a difference in ECD of 173 cell/mm2 existed between storage media groups (Optisol GS>Life4°C, p<0.001).
Conclusions :
Eye bank donor corneas stored in Optisol GS solution were associated with higher ECD than eye bank donor corneas stored in Life4°C solution.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.