Outcomes of corneal transplantation using donor corneas retrieved from patients with chronic kidney disease

PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of corneal transplantation utilizing corneas retrieved from donors with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Outcomes of corneal transplantation (optical PK and EK) performed from Jan 2018 to Dec 2018 utilizing donor corneas retrieved from CKD patients was performed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the total of 233 donor corneas retrieved from CKD, 135 (57.9%) were utilized for transplantation after the routine screening protocol of the eye bank. Mean age of the donors was 56.2 ± 13.5 years. The mean endothelial cell density on specular microscopy of the donor corneas used for optical PK was 2685.7 ± 377.6 cells/mm(2) (range, 2028–3448 cells/mm(2)) and for EK was 2731.7 ± 189.1 cells/mm(2) (range, 2380–3194 cells/mm(2)). The overall primary graft failure rate was 5.1%. All grafts except 1, cleared in the PK group. In the EK group (6 DMEK and 16 DSAEK), 1 patient had a complete graft detachment and another 1 had a primary graft failure after DMEK. CONCLUSION: The donor corneas retrieved from chronic kidney disease patients are safe and suitable for optical keratoplasty provided they meet the criteria for transplantation.