Use of infant donor tissue for endokeratoplasty

Endokeratoplasty using an infant donor cornea was performed in an 81-year-o ld man with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, corneal decompensation, and a his tory of cystoid macular edema in the left eye, The patient reported minimal discomfort after surgery, and the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity i mproved from 20/400 to 20/100 by the second postoperative month with resolu tion of the corneal edema. Endokeratoplasty using an infant cornea is a via ble alternative to penetrating keratoplasty for corneal endothelial decompe nsation, and infant corneas may provide a new and potentially healthier sou rce of tissue for corneal transplantation. (C) 2001 ASCPS and ESCRS.