One donor cornea for 3 recipients: a new concept for corneal transplantation surgery

Arch Ophthalmol. 2007 Apr;125(4):552-4. doi: 10.1001/archopht.125.4.552.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the use of a single donor corneal tissue in 3 patients with corneal pathologic conditions.

Methods: A donor corneal tissue was divided into 3 parts using a microkeratome and a trephine. The anterior lamellar disc was transplanted into a patient with macular corneal dystrophy using the automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty technique. The posterior lamellar disc was transplanted into a patient with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy using the Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty technique. The peripheral corneoscleral rim was used for limbal stem cell transplantation in a child with limbal stem cell deficiency.

Results: All surgical procedures were performed successfully. At 3 months, the best-corrected visual acuities achieved following automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty, Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, and limbal stem cell transplantation were 20/60, 20/40, and 20/200, respectively.

Conclusion: The advent of customized component corneal transplantation techniques may allow the use of 1 donor cornea to treat multiple patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cell Transplantation
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cornea*
  • Corneal Diseases / surgery*
  • Corneal Transplantation / methods*
  • Endothelium, Corneal / transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Limbus Corneae / cytology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Tissue Donors*