Affiliation:
1. Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto, 30174 Venice, Italy
2. Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
3. Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5TR, UK
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess different temperature ranges for the preservation of pre-loaded Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) grafts in the DMEK RAPID Mini device. Methods: Three groups of 15 DMEK grafts (five per group) were pre-loaded in the DMEK RAPID Mini and preserved in Optisol-GS for 72 h at different temperatures: group A at >8 °C, group B between 2–8 °C and group C at <2 °C. After stripping and preservation, the viability of the endothelium, cell loss and morphology were assessed through light microscopy following trypan blue and alizarin red staining. Results: Overall mortality was 4.07%, 3.97% and 7.66%, in groups A, B and C, respectively, with percentages of uncovered areas of 0.31%, 1.36% and 0.20% (all p > 0.05). Endothelial cell density variation was 5.51%, 3.06% and 2.82% in groups A, B and C, respectively (p = 0.19). Total Endothelial Cell Loss (ECL) was 4.37%, 5.32% and 7.84% in groups A, B and C, respectively (p = 0.39). Endothelial cell morphology was comparable in all three groups. Conclusions: In the DMEK RAPID Mini, low temperatures (<2 °C) may affect the quality of pre-loaded grafts, inducing a higher ECL after 72 h of preservation, although no significant differences among groups could be proved. Our data would suggest maintaining grafts loaded in the DMEK RAPID Mini at temperatures between 2–8 °C for appropriate preservation.