A 3-decade Activity of the Central Eye Bank of Iran

Purpose: To report a 3-decade eye bank data and activity of the Central Eye Bank of Iran (CEBI). Methods: All the eye bank records in terms of procured eyes, utilized tissues, corneal transplants per capita, and indications for keratoplasty over the last 3 decades were analyzed. Results: During the last 27 years, 115 743 whole eyes were donated, among which 114 169 eyes were donated between 1994 and 2017. Out of 114 169 donated eyes, 95 314 eyes were sent for corneal graft and 95 057 corneas were finally transplanted. The mean rate of corneal transplants per capita per year was 55×10−6±27×10−6. Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was the most leading surgical technique between 2006 and 2017 (70%); however, unlike an increasing trend of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK; P<0.001), it revealed a decreasing trend (P=0.048). Keratoconus (KCN; 39.7%), bullous keratopathies (BK; 18.5%), corneal scar and opacities (CSO; 15.7%), and graft failure (GF, 7.5%) were the 4 leading indications for keratoplasty in Iran; demonstrating an increasing trend for BK, GF, and KCN. 83.7% of the scleral tissues was used for protecting the orbital implants. Over the past 12 years, adverse reactions were reported in 0.088%. Conclusion: Over the last 3 decades, an increasing trend was observed for the procured eyes in the Central Eye Bank of Iran. KCN and BK were the most leading indications for keratoplasty. There was an increasing trend over the past 12 years for DSAEK, while PKP was the most common procedure for corneal transplantation. Considering the small amount of reported adverse reactions after corneal transplantations, it can be concluded that there is a high safety of corneal transplantation system from the eye bank to the recipients.