Metabolic status of fresh v eye-bank-processed corneas. A phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance study.

The concentrations of corneal phosphatic metabolites in fresh and eye-bank-processed corneas were measured by phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance of perchloric acid corneal extracts to determine whether metabolic differences exist between these two corneal preparations. Cat corneas were prepared using an eye-bank protocol, including specular microscopic examination and transport to a distant location. Fresh cat corneas were used as controls. The hexose 6-phosphate resonance band, the nucleoside monophosphate band, the phosphodiesters, and adenosine triphosphate of eye-bank-processed corneas were significantly decreased relative to fresh control corneas. Phosphatic metabolites that significantly increased relative to control corneas included inorganic orthophosphate and phosphocreatine. A calculated corneal tissue-energy index was significantly decreased for eye-bank-processed corneas relative to control. This decline demonstrates a compromise in the metabolic energy status of the tissue and is indicative of a diminished ability of the cornea to maintain its complement of high-energy phosphates.