This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.
WITH the advent of the corneal transplantation operation, there has been a gradual intensification of interest in the donor material to be used for this operation. The institution of the Eye Bank for Sight Restoration to supply adequate material for this operation is a step forward in the right direction, for this organization facilitates a rapid distribution of donor material to the proper place. However, the actual preservation of corneal material involves much more than meets the eye of the casual observer, and there is widespread misconception about this subject.
Contrary to the general opinion, corneal tissue is relatively short lived, and the best operative results in corneal transplantation are obtained when the material is fresh and used shortly after it is removed from the donor. Adult eyes after enucleation show normal transparency and no marked increase in corneal thickness due to edema for forty-eight to seventy-two hours, but thereafter