Cornea Transplantation

Abstract

In most types of blindness, the penetrating graft is necessary. The lamellar graft is most useful in treating progressive corneal disease not amenable to medical therapy and in reconstructing a cornea damaged by injury or chemical burns.

Because of inadequate procurement of donor eyes and lack of a method of long-term preservation for fresh corneas, with viability maintained, corneal tissue for penetrating cornea grafting is in short supply throughout the world.

Corneas can be preserved indefinitely at room temperature and can be used successfully for lamellar grafting.