Intermediate-term corneal storage.

Human and rabbit corneas were evaluated for suitability for keratoplasty donor material after storage in moist chambers or soaked in various media. A new chamber was designed which allows corneas to be stored for up to two weeks at ordinary refrigerator temperature. Corneas with scleral rims were placed in the chamber at 4° C. The epithelium faced down into the medium of modified Ringer's or physiologic saline plus Dextran-40 while the endothelium faced a moist chamber. The chamber was then placed in the refrigerator and the cornea sustained one or two weeks storage at 4° C. Corneas were evaluated by means of light and electron microscopy, specular microscopy, and penetrating keratoplasty. Of 12 grafts performed using rabbit corneas stored in this new chamber, 10 graps were successful. Human corneas were also stored in the chamber, and compared favorably under electron microscopic observation with the mate control corneas.