The Viability Control of Human Endothelial Cells Before Keratoplasty (V-CHECK) Study

The corneal endothelium is responsible for preserving corneal transparency by maintaining a dynamic equilibrium of corneal stromal hydration. Corneal Endothelial Cells (CECs) health is approximated by evaluating the Endothelial Cell Density (ECD) of corneal tissues though specular biomicroscopy. ECD is a key determinant of long-term tissue survival after corneal transplantation, as corneal graft function is directly dependent on the number of viable CECs. However, ECD represents only an estimation of total corneal endothelial health and is a suboptimal proxy for future endothelial failure.

In the current chain of supply of donor corneal tissues, no independent evaluation of endothelial cell viability by the surgical team tasked with transplanting the donor corneal tissue is anticipated. The investigators have previously shown a poor correlation between ECD declared by the eye bank providing the tissue and tissue quality as assessed independently by a cornea surgeon performing the transplantation (unpublished data).

In this study, the investigators describe a simple method to independently evaluate the overall endothelial viability of donor corneal tissue which can be adopted both by eye banks before shipment and by the corneal surgeons before transplantation in the operating theatre. This method uses basic image analysis to assess the extent of endothelial cell death and/or denuded endothelial areas with the use of Trypan Blue, a vital dye commonly employed during corneal transplantation. Endothelial cell loss is visualized and quantified as Trypan Blue Positive Areas (TBPA).

The primary objective of this study is to quantify the extent of TBPA in the operating theatre before corneal transplantation and correlate it to overall donor mortality declared by the eye bank. Secondary objectives include the assessment of the correlation of TBPA with declared ECD and CECs mortality, on folds, as well as the longitudinal analysis of endothelial cell loss as a function of time from surgery and initial TBPA over a follow-up of 12 months, final ECD, incidence of graft failure, and risk of graft failure attributable to preoperative TBPA.

Inclusion criteria

• Age older than 18 years old
• Planned corneal transplantation: perforating keratoplasty (PK), Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), ultra-thin DSAEK (UT-DSAEK) or Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK)
• Indication for corneal transplantation (low-moderate risk of rejection): keratoconus, Fuchs endothelial dystrophy
• Ability to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Prior corneal transplantation
• Planned preloaded DSAEK or preloaded DMEK
• Planned keratoplasty not involving corneal endothelium transplantation (i.e., superficial/deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty)
• Evidence of concurrent microbial keratitis
• Evidence of non-infectious or autoimmune keratitis
• Impending or frank corneal perforation
• Uncontrolled, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP)- Previous glaucoma surgery
• Acute or chronic inflammatory/infectious anterior segment uveitis
• Presence of an anterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) for phakic or aphakic purposes