possible transmission of zygomycetes infection by a corneal graft from a donor with signs of orbital trauma

purpose: to report the possible transmission of zygomycetes infection by a corneal graft harvested from a donor with signs of trauma to the orbital region to a keratoconic patient who underwent deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (dalk). case report: a 19-year-old keratoconic man underwent dalk in the right eye. the corneal graft was harvested from a donor with signs of orbital trauma. on postoperative day 3, slit lamp examination revealed multiple refractile lines involving the entire donor stroma. with a possible potential diagnosis of lattice dystrophy of the donor cornea, the graft was replaced. histopathologic analysis demonstrated zygomycetes graft infection. conclusion: this case report suggests that corneas harvested from donors with signs of orbital trauma may be at risk of donor-to-recipient transmission of zygomycetes infections.