OPTISOL CORNEAL STORAGE MEDIUM

Optisol is an investigational, intermediate-term corneal storage medium containing chondroitin sulfate and dextran to enhance corneal dehydration during storage. We used scanning electron microscopy to grade endothelial cell morphologic characteristics in terms of cell shape, cell borders, cell swelling, and apical holes in pairs of corneas stored in Optisol and Dexsol. Optisol-stored corneas showed significantly fewer morphologic changes after 14 days at 4-degrees-C than did Dexsol-stored corneas. No significant differences were seen after 1 to 4 days at 26-degrees-C. Temperature-reversal analysis showed no significant change in corneal thickness with warming after 2-week storage at 4-degrees-C in either medium, although Optisol-stored corneas were significantly thinner than those stored in Dexsol at all times. The results of scanning electron microscopy suggest that preservation at refrigerator temperature for 2 weeks in Optisol is superior to preservation in Dexsol. Both media may be useful in preserving endothelial structure for limited periods at room temperature, which could provide a measure of safety in shipping or storage where refrigeration is unreliable.