Preservation of donor corneal epithelium in McCarey-Kaufman medium

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of McCarey-Kaufman (MK) medium in maintaining the integrity of donor corneal epithelium. METHODS: Nineteen corneal buttons were harvested and stored in MK media at 2°C–8°C for four days. Serial photographs were done every day till the 3(rd) day, and images were then analyzed with ImageJ software (LOCI, University of Wisconsin, USA). The area of exposure and epithelial defect (ED) was calculated every day for each corneal button. RESULTS: The average age of the donors was 56.5 ± 22.7 years and mean time from death to preservation of the corneal buttons was 7.7 ± 3.1 hours. The average corneal area was 145.6 ± 18.8 mm(2). The total mean area of exposure was 3.6 ± 4.8, 7.2 ± 9.2, and 9.0 ± 11.9 mm(2), and ED was 1.7 ± 4.6, 2.8 ± 5.3, and 3.3 ± 5.9 mm(2) on days 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The percentage of increase in the area of exposure and ED in MK media was 3.71% and 1.1% from day 1 to day 3, respectively. Six out of 19 corneal buttons (31.57%) were utilized for keratoplasties, of which two were utilized in house and four were distributed outside. Of the two utilized corneas, none had epithelial defect on postoperative day 1. Rest 13 corneas were either used for training and research purposes, stored in glycerol media, or discarded. CONCLUSION: Since the percentage change in area of exposure/ED is not much at the end of day 3, corneas stored in MK media can be safely used even after three days of storage. Hence, MK medium serves as an excellent medium in maintaining the integrity of donor corneal epithelium.