Clinical profile and early surgical complications in the Cornea Donor Study.

Purpose: The Cornea Donor Study was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of older donor corneal tissue compared with younger donor tissue in recipient eyes at moderate risk to the graft from progressive endothelial failure. Baseline patient data, including indications for transplant, intraoperative complication rates, and early postoperative complication rates are described herein.

Methods: This study was a multicenter prospective, double-masked, controlled clinical trial.

Results: Fuchs dystrophy was the most common indication for corneal transplantation (61%). Intraoperative complications occurred in 33 (3%) patients. A persistent epithelial defect was the most commonly reported postoperative complication, occurring in 92 patients (8%).

Conclusion: Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were low. There was no apparent association between donor or recipient age and either intraoperative or early postoperative complication rates.