Improved corneal storage for penetrating keratoplasties in man.

Twenty-six of 28 human corneas stored for up to seven days in a simple tissue culture medium (dextran dissolved in tissue culture medium with streptomycin-penicillin mixture) remained clear and thin after keratoplasty. Temperature reversal phenomenon and electron microscopy demonstrated high quality of such tissue after storage. The method is inexpensive, requires limited technical assistance, and provides the surgeon with excellent tissue at regular operation hours.