Improved corneal storage.

The corneas of New Zealand albino rabbits were isolated with a sclero-corneal rim for storage in a modified tissue culture medium (M-K medium) at 4° C. The corneas were either mounted in the specular microscope for daily observation of the endothelial layer and comeal thickness while being bathed in the storage medium at 4° C, or sealed in vials with the storage media. The vials were stored at 4° C. for 5, 9, and 14 days at the end of which the corneas were mounted in the specular microscope and the temperature was reversed for an endothelial viability test. Along with specular micrographs of the endothelial layer and comeal-thickness measurements, electron microscopy was performed to evaluate the viability of the endothelial cells. The results have indicated that a viable endothelium is present in rabbit corneas stored for up to 14 days in the M-K medium. The corneal storage technique requires no special equipment, utilizes readily available storage media components, and is easily executed with little chance of technician error. It not only permits prolonged storage, but it is superior to the stagnant aqueous of the enucleated eye.