Different influences on corneal survival were studied in 539 grafts. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 4 1/2 years. The degree of vascularization of the host cornea, previous graft failures and the diameter of the graft could be demonstrated to influence the graft survival significantly. A significant influence of sex differences between donors and recipients was found. A female donor results in a better graft survival in female recipient as compared to male recipients. No significant influence on graft survival was found of pregnancies and blood transfusions. Age of the donor, storage methods and time lapse between death and transplantation did not influence the graft survival either.