Abstract
Purpose :
We have invented a preservation device that developed to preserve the cornea under epithelial and endothelial separated conditions. We compared the differences after epithelium of whole cornea preserved in Optisol GS™ and low temperature airlift conditions.
Methods :
In this research, twenty-four corneas of twelve New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups. The corneal epithelia side preserved under Optisol GS™ submerged or hypothermic airlift conditions for 1 week and 2weeks, (4°C).After preservation, four tests will be used to compare the assessment of corneal status. Those tests included transparency, OCT (corneal thickness), HE staining, and epithelial migration.
Results :
In the epithelial migration examination, result showed a statistical difference(z=-2.8, p<0.05 Wilcoxon test), which means corneal epithelium preserved in airlift condition had a larger migration area. In the transparency examination, the corneas in 1-week Optisol GS™ group were most transparent, followed by 1-week airlift group. In the 2-week Optisol GS™ and 2-week airlift group, corneas became opacitous due to edema. In OCT test, for each cornea, the thickness of the cornea at the end is greater than at the start. The result of HE- staining showed that the epithelial cells of 1-week Optisol GS™ group and 1-week airlift group still retain intact cellular structure and the morphology of the cells could be observed. The structure of corneal epithelial cells in 2-week Optisol GS™ group and 2-week airlift group has been disrupted and it is difficult to observe complete cell morphology.
Conclusions :
Corneal epithelium preserved under hypothermic airlift conditions was comparable to Optisol GS™ conditions.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.