A medium-term corneal preserving medium (K-Sol).

A new corneal preserving solution, K-Sol, was prepared by combining TC 199, 100 mg/L of gentamicin sulfate, 0.025M HEPES buffer to a pH of 7.4, and various concentrations (2.0%; 2.25%; 2.5%) of chondroitin sulfate to a final osmolality of 310 mOsm. Rabbit corneas stored at 4 degrees C for 12 days in each solution, as well as fresh controls, were used for penetrating keratoplasty. Three weeks later, one graft in the 2.0% group was opacified; the rest were clear and showed minimal thickening. There were no significant differences between controls in terms of pachymetry and endothelial cell loss. This study supports the finding that K-Sol with 2.5% chondroitin sulfate is a simple, effective, medium-term preserving solution for donor tissue for penetrating keratoplasty in rabbits.