Abstract
Purpose This study aims to evaluate a novel medium formulation for corneal culture (MCC, AL.CHI.MI.A. Srl) at 31°C for 25 days.
Methods Eighteen (n=18) donor corneas recovered in standard hypothermic medium (FBOV) were transferred to the MCC medium (n=14) or in standard corneal culture medium (Storagix, FBOV, n=4) as controls, at 31°C for up to 25 days. Endothelial cell density (ECD), Central corneal thickness (CCT) and transparency, using light microscopy, optical coherence tomography and a luxmeter were measured at 0, 14, 21 and 25 days of storage. Additionally, ECD, hexagonality (HEX%) and coefficient of variation (CV%) were evaluated by specular microscopy at the same time intervals.
Results Similar ECD trend was observed in corneas stored in both media over time. The remaining critical corneal quality parameters in MCC group resulted also stable during the whole incubation with following final values at day 25: CV% 41 ± 8, HEX% 48 ± 6, with a final central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements corresponding to 568 ± 31 µm after 25 days at 31°C. CV% and HEX% could not be evaluated for controls due to the increase in corneal thickness, which showed an approximately doubled CCT value as compared to the MCC group corneas. The storage in MCC allowed better preservation of endothelial morphology and corneal transparency during 25-days period preservation.
Conclusions MCC medium formulation shows is a safe and effective option for corneal culture allowing the maintenance of a corneal quality and physiological corneal thickness for 25 days of storage at 31°C
