SPECULAR MICROSCOPY BEFORE AND AFTER ENUCLEATION OF LIVE DONOR EYES

PURPOSE: To compare the results of specular microscopic examination of corneal endothelium before and after enucleation of eyes from live do nors. METHODS: Endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variatio n of cell area (CV), and percent hexagonal cells were compared for 34 cornea donors before enucleation of their eyes and after excision of t he corneoscleral rims and placement in preservative media. RESULTS: Th ere was no statistically significant difference in ECD, CV, or percent six-sided cells after enucleation. The pre-enucleation and post-enucl eation ECD measurements were significantly correlated (r(5) = .85, P < .0001). Mean percentage change in ECD was -0.7% +/- 6.0%. CONCLUSIONS : There was no significant difference in ECD, CV, or percent six-sided cells between measurements taken from the epithelial side in vivo and those taken of the same corneas from the endothelial side in vitro af ter enucleation and corneoscleral rim excision. These findings suggest that it is reasonable to compare postkeratoplasty clinical measuremen ts with those of the donor corneas taken in the eye bank.