Microkeratome-prepared lamellar grafts viable after cold storage

Corneal lamellar grafts can be cut using a microkeratome and placed in cold storage for later use, a small study suggests. This might allow preparation of corneal lamellar grafts at a central location, such as an eye bank, for distribution later, the study authors said.

Olan Suwan-Apichon, MD, and colleagues evaluated the thickness and viability of corneal grafts sectioned using a microkeratome and stored in a simulated eye bank environment. The microkeratome head was set to a depth of 350 µm, and grafts were stored in Optisol GS at 4°C for 2 days.

Before being sectioned, total corneal thickness averaged 562 ± 51 µm. Immediately after sectioning, anterior graft thickness averaged 296 ± 111 µm and posterior graft thickness averaged 270 ± 74 µm.

After 2 days in cold storage, anterior graft thickness averaged 282 ± 38 µm and posterior graft thickness averaged 429 ± 31 µm, according to the study.

Significant swelling occurred in the posterior grafts but not the anterior grafts, the authors noted. Only 3% ± 1.2% of epithelial cells were devitalized, they said.

The study is published in Eye & Contact Lens.