Significance of donor age in penetrating keratoplasty.

Because the significance of donor age in penetrating keratoplasty remains controversial, a study was undertaken to analyze the results of keratoplastics performed with older (greater than 70) and younger (less than 55) donor corneas. Thirty-seven eyes which received older donor corneas were divided into 4 diagnostic categories and were compared with 37 eyes having the same diagnosis which received younger donor corneas. The average follow-up for both groups was 24 months. There was no significant difference between the number of clear grafts in each group. It would appear that older donor corneas can withstand the surgical trauma of transplantation and remain clear for a relatively significant period.