Professor Salvador Salceda described the history of Philippine eye banking as “a fascinating if not frustrating one”. This is evident in his Geminiano de Ocampo Medical Research Foundation Centennial Lecture where he traced the ebb and flow of Philippine eye banking from 1948 until the birth of the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines in 1994 and the start of operations of its Medical Eye Bank in 1995.1 The story of Philippine eye banking remains a fascinating one, but it has fortunately also been blessed with many moments of success and satisfaction even while still laden with frustration. In an editorial about the Eye Bank in 2005, I wrote that “while the achievements after ten years of operations can be considered a success story, we have really only started to plant the seeds”.2 And now, thirty years hence, after the COVID-19 pandemic that saw the number of cornea retrieval procedures plunge throughout the world, I believe we are starting to reap the harvest from the seeds planted throughout the last three decades.
Eye Banks

The authors analyzed 1867 donor eyes which were obtained from Central Eye Bank at St Mary's Hospital from Jan. 1977 to Aug. 1990. 1. 658 donors(68.7%) were female and 539(56.4%) were above 60 years of age. 2. The most common cause of death was circulatory disease(29.4%), followed by respiratory disease(20.4%) and tumor(13.7%) 3. In death to enucleation time, sixty-eight percent were below 6 hours and twelve percent were between 6 and 12 hours. 4. The most common source of donation was KOT DONG NAE(57.8%), followed by a charity institute(35.4%) and register(4.7%). 5. 982 eyes were used for research; of those, 520 eyes (52.9%) were used for research because of the cause of death.
Cause of Death ; Charities ; Eye Banks* ; Female ; Humans ; Tissue Donors*

The maintenance of corneal endothelial cells is essential for success of corneal transplantation. Endothelial cell count by specular microscope and measurement of donor corneal thickness is useful in measuring the function of cornea. We studied difference of corneal thickness in central and peripheral corneal region in enucleated eye. We measured corneal thickness of 48 eyes(48 persons) with ultrasound pachymetry that were presented to The Eye Bank of Catholic University Medical College. Average age was 61.42+/-16.12 years and average time was 163.02+/-102.52 minutes until measurement of corneal thickness after death. Increased amount of corneal thickness was 136.73+/-101.44micrometer in center and 61.37+/135.46micrometer in periphery compared with normal average corneal thickness. According to these results, corneal edema due to functional loss of endothelial cells after death lead to increased corneal thickness, especially in central region being more statistically significant than peripheral region (p=0.002).
Cornea ; Corneal Edema ; Corneal Transplantation ; Endothelial Cells ; Eye Banks ; Humans ; Tissue Donors ; Ultrasonography

This study was performed to know effectiveness and safety of cadaveric lyophilized dura mater grafts(Lyodura, B.Braun Melsungen, Germany) to cover glaucoma implant tube. Tewnty-seven eyes of 25 patients who underwent glaucoma implant surgery between April 1996 and September 1997 received a lyophilized dura mater patch graft to cover the subconjunctival portion of the tube and then followed up for clinical signs. The mean follow up visit was 10.3 months (range: 5-18 months). All eyes tolerated the lyophilized dura mater grafts well without clinical signs of graft related conjunctival, scleral, of intraocular inflammation. And no conjunctival erosion or melting of the graft was observed. The result of this study suggests that preserved dura mater is maybe a reasonable alternative to eye bank sclera for use in glaucoma implant surgery.
Cadaver ; Dura Mater* ; Eye Banks ; Follow-Up Studies ; Freezing ; Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Sclera ; Transplants*

Authors performed 25 corneal grafts in 24 patients since the inauguration of The Central Eye Bank, attached to the Department of Ophthalmology, St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Medical College, in April 19, 1967. Method and results of these cases are as follows; METHOD: In technique of surgery, the grafts in most of the cases were 7 mm in diameter(Table 3), in two types of penetrating and lamellar corneal grafts(Table 4). The donor material came from patient age group of 51-60 years old in most and was used within 24 hours after death (Table 5). In most cases we placed 12 interrupted sutures except of two cases for continuous suture by 8-0 virgin silks. Preoperative and postoperative cares were routine with systemic dexamethasone, 7.0mg a day was given routinely on the 5 th postoperative day for 30-50 days because of prevention of graft rejection. RESULTS AND SUMMARY: Table 7 summbrizes the results of our observation. Nineteen of the 25 grafts remained clear. And there was improved vision above 20/200 in ten eyes out of nineteen clear grafts. Table 10 lists the reasons why nine clear grafts did not improve vision. Postoperative complications occurred in fourteen grafts (Table 11). Penetrating corneal grafts for adherent leucoma courneae, staphyloma corneae and corneal scars from alkaline burn were failed to maintaining the clear graft. The donor material, the recipient cornea, graft rejection as a complication and its prevantion were discussed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We wish to express our sincere gratitude to an those who have guided in carrying out the present investigation. In particular, We are jndebted to Dr. Bon Sool Koo, Former Chief and Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic Medical College. Dr. Sang Wook Rhee. Chief and Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic Medical College.
Burns ; Cicatrix ; Cornea ; Corneal Transplantation* ; Dexamethasone ; Eye Banks ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Ophthalmology ; Postoperative Complications ; Silk ; Sutures ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: To determine whether viscoelastic materials are effective to protect the corneal endothelium from air bubble damage. METHODS: Human eye bank (n=12) and rabbit (n=22) eyes underwent a standardized phacoemulsification procedure with or without viscoelastic material [1% sodium hyaluronate (Healon(R)), 1.4% sodium hyaluronate (Healon GV(R)), 3% sodium hyaluronate with 4% chondroitin sulfate (Viscoat(R))]. The integrity of the endothelium was examined after the procedure with F-actin staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: In the phacoemulsification experiment without viscoelastic material, with Healon, and with Healon GV, the endothelium of both human and rabbit corneas had many areas of cell loss in a pattern consistent with air bubble damage. But with Viscoat, endothelial cells remained intact. CONCLUSIONS: We found that Viscoat was effective to protect the endothelium from air bubble damage. Viscoat seems to protect the endothelium by acting as a physical barrier.
Actins ; Chondroitin Sulfates ; Cornea ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Eye Banks ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Phacoemulsification* ; Viscoelastic Substances*

We analyzed the result of the tests about HBs Ag, HCv Ag, HIV Ag and VDRL in the blood of the donor and evaluated sex and age distribution, cause of death of the donor, which were obtained from Central Eye Bank at St. Mary's Hospital from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1994. 1. Hepatitis B surface Ag in the blood was positive in 13 donors(4.80%) and Hepatitis C Ag was in 4 donors(1.48%). 2. VDRL test in the blood was positive in 11 donors(4.06%) and HIV Ag was in 1 donor(0.37%). 3. In sex and age distribution, 128 donors(47.23%) were male and 3 donors(52.77%) were from 71 to 80 years was the major group of donors(67 donors: 24.72%). 4. The most common cause of death was respiratory disease(94 donors: 34.69%) and then tumor(76 donors: 28.04%), circulatory disease(66 donors: 24.35%), metabolic disease (19 donors: 7.01%), infection(9 donors: 3.32%) and trauma(7 donors: 2.58%).
Age Distribution ; Cause of Death ; Eye Banks ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis C ; HIV ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases ; Tissue Donors*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of Acanthamoeba to adhere to the epithelial cells of human cornea. Human corneas, obtained through the eye bank of Catholic Medical Center, were cultured in Optisol solution at 37degreesC. Trophozoites of Acanthamoeba lugdunensis cultured on non-nutrient agar plate were collected to make a suspension in concentration of 1x106/ml. 100microliter of amoeba suspension was added to the epithelial surface of cultured human corneas and each cornea was incubated for 12 hours. Each cornea was examined with scanning and transmission electron microscope. On scanning electron microscopy, trophozoites adhered to each other and to the corneal epithelium, especially to intercellular junction by their extended lobopodia at 12 hour-incubation. On transmission electron microscopy, trophozoites showed limited regions of attachment to the corneal epithelium at 12 hour-incubation, and the attached areas showed desmosome-like structure. Trophozoites adhered to each other by cytoplasmic interdigitation. In conclusion, trophozoites adhere to the corneal epithelial surface by their cytoplasmic processes and their processes appeared to have affinity to intercellular junctions of the corneal epithelium. Attachment regions between corneal epithelium and amoeba were characterized as desmosomelike junctions.
Acanthamoeba* ; Agar ; Amoeba ; Cornea* ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium, Corneal* ; Eye Banks ; Humans* ; Intercellular Junctions ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission* ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Pseudopodia ; Trophozoites

PURPOSE: To report an epidemiologic study of keratoplasty in which we analyze basic data of corneal transplants and corneal donations in Korea. METHODS: From June 2004 through October 2004, questionnaires were distributed to 25 hospitals. The questionnaires were about the characteristics of patients registered in eye banks for keratoplasty from May 2001 to April 2003, and about the results of keratoplasties performed from May 2002 to April 2003. RESULTS: The leading corneal diseases in patients registered for keratoplasty were infectious keratitis (22.0%), trauma (21.0%), and pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (13.8%), in that order. The leading indications in corneal recipients were: trauma (15.5%), pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (13.7%), and infectious keratitis (10.7%), in that order. In 233 cases of keratoplasties, penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 229 cases (98.3%) and lamellar keratoplasty was performed in 4 cases (1.7%). The most common combined surgery was cataract extraction. Common causes of graft failure were rejection of donor cornea and infection. Imported donor corneas were used in sixty-one cases (26.2%) among the 233 total keratoplasties. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed an epidemiologic data base of patients registered for keratoplasty, corneal donation, and the results of keratoplasties throughout Korea.
Cataract Extraction ; Cornea ; Corneal Diseases ; Corneal Transplantation* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Eye Banks ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Korea* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To report an epidemiologic study of keratoplasty in which we analyze basic data of corneal transplants and corneal donations in Korea. METHODS: From June 2004 through October 2004, questionnaires were distributed to 25 hospitals. The questionnaires were about the characteristics of patients registered in eye banks for keratoplasty from May 2001 to April 2003, and about the results of keratoplasties performed from May 2002 to April 2003. RESULTS: The leading corneal diseases in patients registered for keratoplasty were infectious keratitis (22.0%), trauma (21.0%), and pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (13.8%), in that order. The leading indications in corneal recipients were: trauma (15.5%), pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (13.7%), and infectious keratitis (10.7%), in that order. In 233 cases of keratoplasties, penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 229 cases (98.3%) and lamellar keratoplasty was performed in 4 cases (1.7%). The most common combined surgery was cataract extraction. Common causes of graft failure were rejection of donor cornea and infection. Imported donor corneas were used in sixty-one cases (26.2%) among the 233 total keratoplasties. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed an epidemiologic data base of patients registered for keratoplasty, corneal donation, and the results of keratoplasties throughout Korea.
Cataract Extraction ; Cornea ; Corneal Diseases ; Corneal Transplantation* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Eye Banks ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Korea* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants