Eye Bank Association Of America Research Articles

Abstracts from the 2023 Summer Scientific Symposium of the Eye Bank Association of America

Abstracts from the 2023 Summer Scientific Symposium of the Eye Bank Association of America

Editorial introductions.

Current Opinion in Ophthalmology was launched in 1990. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of Ophthalmology is divided into nine sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Journal's Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Jimmy K. LeeJimmy K. LeeDr Jimmy Lee specializes in laser vision correction surgery. His surgical expertise also includes complex cataract surgery, anterior segment reconstruction, all forms of corneal transplantation, and limbal stem cell transplantation. Dr Lee's research interests are new technologies in refractive surgery and improving surgical techniques for endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK and DMEK). A member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, he has extensively lectured nationally and internationally on these topics. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Johns Hopkins University, USA, Dr Lee obtained his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College, USA. Following his residency at Albert Einstein Montefiore Hospital, he completed a fellowship in cornea, external diseases, and refractive surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology. Shahzad I. MianShahzad I. MianShahzad I. Mian, M.D., is a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences in the University of Michigan Medical School. He also serves the Department as Vice Chair for Clinical Sciences and Learning. Dr. Mian earned his medical degree in 1996 from the Emory University School of Medicine. He then completed a residency at the Wills Eye Hospital of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. From 2000-02, he was a fellow in cornea and refractive surgery at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He joined the U-M faculty in 2002 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2010. He became professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences in 2016. His research focuses on eye banking, keratoplasty techniques, and ocular graft versus host disease. He served as director of the residency training program between 2004 and 2019 and previously served as fellowship director in the department. In 2003 and 2012, he received the Bergstrom Teaching Award presented by ophthalmology residents. Dr. Mian received the 2007 Anthony Adamis Award for Outstanding Research from the U-M Kellogg Eye Center, and the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He received the Straatsma Award for resident education from the Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology in 2017 and the Payton Award for Eye banking from the Eye Bank Association of America in 2019. He serves as the Senior Medical Director for Eversight Eye banks as well as on the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cornea Society and the Eye Bank Association of America. He also serves on the Residency Review Committee for Ophthalmology.

Reply.

*Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; and †University Hospitals Eye Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. Supported by cooperative agreements with the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services EY20797 and EY20798. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Eye Institute or the National Institutes of Health. Additional support provided by Eye Bank Association of America, The Cornea Society, Vision Share, Inc., Alabama Eye Bank, Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation, Eversight, Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration, Iowa Lions Eye Bank, Lions Eye Bank of Albany, San Diego Eye Bank, and SightLife. Analyses and manuscript preparation were supported by the JAEB Center Research Fund. Financial disclosures/conflicts of interest: J. H. Lass is a voluntary board member of Eversight and the Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation.

Cornea and Eye Banking Forum 2022 Scientific Abstracts: Proceedings of the September 2022 Meeting, Cosponsored by the Eye Bank Association of America and the Cornea Society

Cornea and Eye Banking Forum 2022 Scientific Abstracts: Proceedings of the September 2022 Meeting, Cosponsored by the Eye Bank Association of America and the Cornea Society

Keratoplasty in the United States: Trends and Indications From 2015 to 2020.

The aim of this study was to report trends in keratoplasty techniques and indications in the United States from 2015 to 2020. This retrospective review of annual reports from the Eye Bank Association of America assessed domestic corneal graft distribution and surgical indication data for various types of keratoplasty. Trends in procedure volume and indications from 2015 to 2020 were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test. The total number of corneal transplants increased from 47,903 in 2015 to 49,143 in 2019, with a decline to 42,257 in 2020, most likely due to COVID-19. Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) volume decreased from 2015 to 2020 (19,160-15,402, 40% to 36.4%, P < 0.001), continuing a trend from the previous decade. Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty as a percentage of all keratoplasty procedures increased (9.8%-27.8%, P < 0.001), whereas Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (47%-33.9%, P < 0.001) and anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) decreased (2.3%-1.2%, P < 0.001).From 2017 to 2020, repeat corneal transplant was the most common specific indication for PK while ectasias/thinnings decreased in prevalence (15.6%-11.5%, P < 0.001). Ectasias/thinnings and endothelial dystrophy remained the leading indications for ALK and endothelial keratoplasty, respectively. From 2015 to 2020, keratoplasty trends in the United States showed a continuation of the decrease in PK and increase in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty observed in the previous decade. The most common domestic indications from 2017 to 2020 have been repeat corneal graft, endothelial dystrophy, and ectasias/thinnings for PK, EK, and ALK, respectively.

COVID-19 and Eye Banking: Ongoing Impacts of the Pandemic.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of ongoing waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting guidelines on the corneal donor pool with resumption of clinical operations. A retrospective analysis of donors deemed eligible for corneal transplantation at an eye bank from July 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021. Donors ineligible due to meeting Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) COVID-19 guidelines or a positive postmortem COVID-19 testing were examined. The correlation between COVID-19 rule outs and state COVID positivity was calculated. The number of scheduled surgeries, suitable corneas, imports, and international exports was compared with a pre-COVID period. Postmortem testing was reduced for the final 5 months of the study, and numbers were compared before and after the policy change. 2.85% of referrals to the eye bank were ruled out because of EBAA guidelines. 3.2% of postmortem tests were positive or indeterminate resulting in an ineligible tissue donor (0.42% of referrals). Over the 18-month period, there was a 4.30% shortage of suitable corneas compared with transplantation procedures. There was a significant correlation between postmortem testing and state COVID-19 positivity (r = 0.37, P <0.01), but not with EBAA guidelines (r = 0.19, P = 0.07). When postmortem testing was reduced, significantly more corneas were exported internationally. Although corneal transplant procedures were back to normal levels, there was a shortage of suitable corneal tissue. The discontinuation of postmortem testing was associated with a significant increase in international exports of corneal donor tissue.

Fungal Infection After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty: Incidence and Outcomes.

The aim of the study was to describe the incidence, presentation, management, and outcomes of fungal infection after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Retrospective case series of culture-proven fungal infections after DMEK reported in the literature, directly by surgeons, and to the Eye Bank Association of America from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020. The domestic incidence of fungal infections, fungal keratitis, and fungal endophthalmitis after DMEK from 2011 to 2020 was 3.5, 1.3, and 2.2 per 10,000 cases, respectively, with no significant increasing trend. Thirty-four cases were identified, 14 (41.2%) published and 20 (58.8%) unpublished. Donor tissue fungal cultures were performed in 20 of the 34 (58.8%) cases and were positive in 19 of the 20 (95.0%), all but one Candida species. Recipient fungal cultures were performed in 29 of the 34 (85.3%) cases and were positive in 26 of the 29 (89.7%), all but one Candida species. Infection presented a mean of 33 ± 38 days (median 23, range 2-200, outlier 949) after transplantation: 25 (73.5%) with endophthalmitis and 9 (26.5%) with keratitis. Topical, intrastromal, intracameral, intravitreal, or systemic antifungal therapy was used in all 27 eyes with treatment data. Surgical intervention (DMEK explantation or partial removal, repeat endothelial keratoplasty, penetrating keratoplasty, and/or pars plana vitrectomy) was required in 21 of the 27 (77.8%) eyes. The corrected distance visual acuity at the last follow-up was ≥20/40 in 13 of the 27 (48.1%) eyes and counting fingers or worse in 6 of the 27 (22.2%) eyes. Fungal infection is a rare but serious complication of DMEK that results in counting fingers or worse corrected distance visual acuity in nearly a quarter of eyes.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in human post-mortem ocular tissues

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 is found in conjunctival swabs and tears of COVID-19 patients. However, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 has not been detected in the human eye to date. We undertook this study to analyze the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in human post-mortem ocular tissues. MethodsThe expression of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was assessed by RT-PCR in corneal and scleral tissues from 33 surgical-intended donors who were eliminated from a surgical use per Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) donor screening guidelines or medical director review or positive COVID-19 test. Ocular levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (RT-PCR), Envelope and Spike proteins (immunohistochemistry) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies (ELISA) in blood were evaluated in additional 10 research-intent COVID-19 positive donors. FindingsOf 132 ocular tissues from 33 surgical-intended donors, the positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was ~13% (17/132). Of 10 COVID-19 donors, six had PCR positive post-mortem nasopharyngeal swabs whereas eight exhibited positive post-mortem anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels. Among 20 eyes recovered from 10 COVID-19 donors: three conjunctival, one anterior corneal, five posterior corneal, and three vitreous swabs tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. SARS-CoV-2 spike and envelope proteins were detected in epithelial layer of the corneas that were procured without Povidone-Iodine (PVP–I) disinfection. InterpretationsOur study showed a small but noteworthy prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in ocular tissues from COVID-19 donors. These findings underscore the criticality of donor screening guidelines, post-mortem nasopharyngeal PCR testing and PVP-I disinfection protocol to eliminate any tissue harboring SARS-CoV-2 being used for corneal transplantation.

Survey report on keratoplasty in China: A 5-year review from 2014 to 2018.

To provide the general information on corneal transplantation (CT) in China, China Cornea Society designed a questionnaire on CT from 2014 to 2018 and entrusted it to 31 committee members for implementation of the survey nationwide. This article presents the results of the survey and compares the indicators used in the survey and those in the annual statistical report released by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA). The number of corneal transplantations completed by the 64 hospitals from 2014 to 2018 was respectively 5377, 6394, 7595, 8270 and 8980, totally 36,616 (22,959 male and 13,657 female). The five largest hospitals by the number of corneal transplantations completed 15,994 surgeries in total, accounting for 43.68% of all the surgeries performed in the 64 hospitals. The most common indication for corneal transplantations was corneal leukoma (7683, 20.98%), followed by bacterial keratitis (4209, 11.49%), corneal dystrophies (4189, 11.44%), keratoconus (3578, 9.77%) and corneal perforation (2839, 7.75%). The main surgical techniques were penetrating keratoplasty (PK) (19,896, 54.34%), anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) (13,869, 37.88%). The proportion of PK decreased from 57.97% in 2014 to 52.88% in 2018 while the proportion of ALK increased from 36.04% in 2014 to 37.92% in 2018. The geographical distribution of keratoplasties performed in China is unbalanced. PK and ALK were the main techniques of CT and corneal leukoma, bacterial keratitis and corneal dystrophies were the main indications for CT in China.

Early Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on the Availability of Cornea Donors: Warnings and Recommendations.

Keratoplasty is one of the irreplaceable treatment options for corneal diseases. Currently, there is no evidence to substantiate that harvested corneal grafts from COVID-19 patients can contain SARS-CoV-2 virus and lead to a systemic infection. Although the risk of transmission through corneal stromal tissue is low, it potentially exists. Lack of clinical data, unclear potential of donor-derived infection and non-established recommendations for transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of keratoplasty and cornea donors at ophthalmology departments and eye banks. To eliminate the risk of infection of recipients and medical personnel, we suggest that the blood samples of all donors should be screened with RT-PCR tests and nasopharyngeal swabs should be taken. In addition, a chest CT scan should be performed if the circulation is maintained. Moreover, the donors’ clinical and epidemiological medical history must be screened for typical symptoms and potential contact with SARS-CoV-2 carriers to reduce the risk of transmission. The Guidelines of the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), Global Alliance of Eye Bank Associations (GAEBA) and European Association of Tissue Banks provide useful recommendations to eliminate the risk of transmission according to previous experiences based on similar viruses.

Eye banking in the coronavirus disease 2019 era.

Coronavirus disease 2019, caused by novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is highly infectious; however, the different routes of transmission are not well understood. Transmission through tissue transplantation is possible and must be considered. This review will evaluate the current literature regarding routes of transmission, the likelihood of transmission through ocular tissue transplantation, and the guidelines in place to mitigate this risk. Although respiratory droplets have been the primary route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, there is evidence that transmission through blood donation and organ or tissue transplantation is possible. This includes corneal transplantation, as SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in conjunctival swabs of infected patients, and the ocular surface may play an important role in viral entry. Several tissue transplantation organizations have guidelines in place regarding the screening of donors and tissue procurement procedures, including clinical and/or PCR screening of donors. The Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) is currently not recommending asymptomatic PCR screening. However, their antiseptic protocols may play an important role in viral inactivation. Based on the current literature and guidelines, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through corneal transplantation is likely low. However, tissue screening guidelines need to be re-evaluated regularly as knowledge regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus evolves.

Editorial introductions

Current Opinion in Ophthalmology was launched in 1990. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of Ophthalmology is divided into nine sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Journal's Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Jimmy K. LeeJimmy K. LeeDr Jimmy K. Lee specializes in laser vision correction surgery. His surgical expertise also includes complex cataract surgery, anterior segment reconstruction, all forms of corneal transplantation, and limbal stem cell transplantation. Dr Lee's research interests are new technologies in refractive surgery and improving surgical techniques for endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK and DMEK). A member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, he has extensively lectured nationally and internationally on these topics. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Johns Hopkins University, USA, Dr Lee obtained his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College, USA. Following his residency at Albert Einstein Montefiore Hospital, he completed a fellowship in cornea, external diseases, and refractive surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology. Shahzad I. MianShahzad I. MianDr Mian is a Professor in ophthalmology and visual sciences at University of Michigan/Kellogg Eye Center and holds the Terry J. Bergstrom Collegiate Professorship for Resident Education. His practice is focused in cornea and refractive surgery and research interests include corneal transplantation techniques, ocular graft versus host disease, and eye banking. He is the Vice Chair for Clinical Sciences and Learning and has been director of the residency training program since 2004. In 2003 and 2012, he received the Bergstrom Faculty Teaching Award presented by ophthalmology residents. He received the Straatsma award for resident education in 2017. He serves on the Residency Review Committee for Ophthalmology, Accreditation Board for the Eye Bank Association of America, as the senior medical director of Eversight Michigan Eye bank, and is the past-president of the Program Director's Council of the Association of University Professor in Ophthalmology.

Donor cornea tissue in cases of drowning or water submersion: eye banks practice patterns and tissue outcomes.

Surgical use of donor corneal tissue from victims of water submersion (drowning or submersion secondary to death) remains controversial due to limited evidence about the quality of these tissues. To assess the safety of donor corneal tissue from victims of water submersion, an investigation of eye banks' practice patterns and tissue outcomes was conducted. All 79 Eye Bank Association of America accredited eye banks were contacted for a phone interview of practices regarding tissue from victims of water submersion. A retrospective review of corneal tissues from 2014 to 2016 from a large eye bank network was performed to identify all donors submerged in water. Corneal epithelial integrity, endothelial cell density (ECD), rim cultures, and adverse events were analyzed for associations with water submersion characteristics. 49 eye banks (62% response) participated in the survey. 55% of these eye banks had specific, written protocol for tissue eligibility from donors submerged in water. With or without specific protocol, eye banks reported considering water type (84%) and length of time submerged (92%) to determine eligibility. 22% of eye banks reported medical director involvement when eligibility determination was unclear. 79 tissues from 40 donors who were submerged were identified in 2014-2016 eye bank data. No donor tissues had pre-processing corneal infiltrates, positive rim cultures, or adverse events post-keratoplasty. Corneal epithelial integrity and ECD were not associated with water type or length of time submerged. In conclusion, data from a large eye bank network showed no adverse events or outcomes, indicating these tissues may be safe.

Corneal Infections—Challenges in Diagnosis and Update on Management

Bennie H Jeng is Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Washington University and his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He then completed his ophthalmology residency and chief residency at the Cole Eye Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, which was followed by a fellowship in cornea and external diseases at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation/University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in 2003. He then returned back to the Cole Eye Institute to serve on faculty, during which time he was the recipient of a K-grant from the NIH and also earned his Master degree in Clinical Investigation. He subsequently returned to Proctor/UCSF as an Associate Professor and then Full Professor, where he served as co-director of the UCSF cornea service, Director of the Proctor/UCSF Cornea Fellowship program, and as Chief of Ophthalmology at the San Francisco General Hospital. He was an R01-funded researcher at UCSF, and he assumed his current position at the University of Maryland in August, 2013. Dr Jeng is actively involved in the leadership of many of our ophthalmologic societies, including as a member of the Board of Directors of the Cornea Society, the Eye Bank Association of America, and the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists. He also serves on several committees of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, including the Annual Meeting Program Committee, as well as The Council. He is also actively involved with the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr Jeng is a past member of the editorial board of JAMA Ophthalmology, and he currently serves on the editorial boards of Ophthalmology, Eye, Cornea, Eye and Contact Lens (as an Associate Editor), and International Journal of Eye Banking.

Indications for Keratoplasty at 3 Academic Centers from 2002 to 2012.

To determine whether indications for keratoplasty differ between academic centers and the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) annual statistics from 2002 to 2012. A retrospective review was performed for the indications for keratoplasty from 2002 to 2012 based on surgical specimens originating from three different academic centers. Data were compared with statistical reports obtained from the EBAA for the corresponding years. From 2002 to 2007, at Washington University in St Louis (WU), the most common indication for keratoplasty was graft failure at 31.6%. At St Louis University, the most common indications for keratoplasty were pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (PBK/ABK) at 34.6% followed closely by graft failure at 32.7%. Combining the 2002 to 2007 EBAA data, the most common indication for keratoplasty was PBK/ABK at 19.5%, whereas regrafts accounted for only 13.0% of keratoplasties. From 2008 to 2012, regrafts accounted for 41.9% of keratoplasties at WU and 33.1% of keratoplasties at University of California, Davis. In contrast, the EBAA data showed that only 11.4% of keratoplasties were regrafts. Graft failure accounted for approximately 30% to 40% of indications for keratoplasties at three academic centers from 2002 to 2012, which was more than double and in some cases triple that of the EBAA data during this period. These higher frequencies of regrafting may represent a referral bias of patients with complicated cases to academic centers who then require multiple keratoplasties.

Keratoplasty in the United States: A 10-Year Review from 2005 through 2014

To report evolving indications and preferred techniques of corneal transplantation in the United States. Retrospective review. Annual reports from the Eye Bank Association of America on corneal graft distribution in the United States from 2005 through 2014 were reviewed. Number and percentage of corneal grafts distributed for various types of keratoplasty and their surgical indications in the United States. The total number of corneal transplants increased from 44 277 in 2005 to 46 513 in 2014. In the past decade, penetrating keratoplasty dramatically decreased (from 95% to 42%) and largely has been replaced by various lamellar keratoplasty (LK) techniques (from 5% to 58%). Descemet stripping (automated) endothelial keratoplasty was the most common (50%) type of corneal transplantation performed in the United Stated in 2014. The volume of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) has been doubling every year since 2011 and accounted for 11% of total endothelial keratoplasties in 2014. There was a significant shift in indication for corneal transplantation, with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (22%) being the most common, followed by corneal edema occurring after cataract surgery (12%) in 2014. Eye banks supplied precut corneal grafts for 68% of LK techniques in 2014. In the United States, there has been a major shift in preferred keratoplasty techniques over the past decade, with a wide adoption of new LK techniques.

Incidence of Peters Anomaly and Congenital Corneal Opacities Interfering With Vision in the United States

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of Peters anomaly (PA) and congenital corneal opacities (CCO) interfering with vision in the United States. We collected data from the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), the Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration (Eye-Bank) in New York City, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDH), and the Pediatric Keratoplasty Association (PKA). The EBAA data for 1996 and 1997 indicate that approximately 44,000 corneal transplants are performed annually. Of them, at least 128 are performed in infants, for various etiologies. A survey by the members of the PKA on 1995 showed that 65% of all grafts in infants are performed for PA. The NYSDH data from 1992 to 1997 indicate that the incidence of CCO interfering with vision was 2.2 infants per 100,000. Of those, PA accounted for 1.5 per 100,000. Eye-Bank data from 1988 to 1997 indicate that 12 children (1.1 per 100,000) received 23 transplants on 19 eyes for PA. Combining the data from all 4 sources indicates that approximately 1 infant corneal transplant is performed for every 24,000 live births and most of all CCO interfering with vision is due to PA. Applying the NYSDH and Eye-Bank data to a national birth rate of 4 million, we would expect approximately 88 children born annually in the United States with CCO interfering with vision, with at least 44 to 60 being due to PA. Many of these children may require more than 1 transplant.

Nucleic Acid Testing and Tissue Safety

Tissue safety and added testing is a frequent topic of discussion among those who must evaluate donor suitability and assure appropriate testing. Therefore, the purpose of this report was to examine the data of one eye bank (accredited by Eye Bank Association of America) for the presence or absence of reactive serology in 3592 donors over a 5-year period, from 2005 to 2010. The number of specific analytes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus, that were reactive and the number of multireactive serologies are presented along with reports related to the identification of nucleic acid testing (NAT), NAT-reactive donors in correlation with other antigen or antibody markers. Antigen or antibody markers are enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay immunoassay kit determinations. NATs are used to measure the presence of RNA or DNA virus. The 249 donors with reactive serologies serve to confirm the importance of serologic testing in history-negative potential donors. Furthermore, the findings of 2 HIV NAT-only reactive individuals is significant because it may indicate an early unrecognized exposure and "window period" infectivity not recognized by antibody testing alone. These results support the appropriate inclusion of this added test to guarantee tissue safety. The finding of 2 potential donors without identified risk factors but with reactive HIV NAT suggests the need for comprehensive serologic testing in conjunction with medical social history screening. Considered together, screening and testing offer the best allograft tissue safety currently available.

Report of the Eye Bank Association of America Medical Advisory Board Subcommittee on Fungal Infection After Corneal Transplantation

To investigate the incidence of fungal infections after corneal transplantation to determine whether storage media supplementation with an antifungal should be considered. Adverse reactions reported to the Eye Bank Association of America through the online adverse reaction reporting system between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2010, were reviewed to identify cases of recipient fungal infection. Data were collected regarding the donor, the donor cornea, recovery and processing, and mate culture and clinical course of the recipients. Thirty-one cases of culture-proven fungal keratitis (n = 14) and endophthalmitis (n = 17) were reported out of 221,664 corneal transplants performed using corneal tissue distributed by domestic eye banks (1.4 cases per 10,000 transplants performed). Although the annual incidence of postkeratoplasty fungal infection has not increased significantly since 2005, a trend toward an increasing rate of fungal infection has been observed. Fungal infections were more commonly reported after endothelial keratoplasty procedures (0.022%) than penetrating keratoplasty procedures (0.012%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.076). Additionally, no association was found between fungal infection after endothelial keratoplasty and whether the lamellar tissue cut was performed by the surgeon or the eye bank technician. Seventy-three percent (16 of 22) of the fungal cultures performed on the mate corneas were positive, with infection developing in 67% (10 of 15) of recipient eyes (endophthalmitis in 6 eyes and keratitis in 4 eyes). Although a nonsignificant increasing trend in the rate of fungal infection has been observed over the past 6 years, it is not sufficiently compelling to pursue antifungal supplementation of donor storage media.

The Evolution of Eye Banking in the United States: Landmarks in the History of the Eye Bank Association of America

Established in 1961, the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) was not only the first eye bank association in the world but also the first association to represent any group of organ or tissue transplantation professionals. Its history is one of additional “firsts”: setting medical standards to ensure tissue safety, establishing an accreditation process for individual eye banks, and developing a certification program for eye bank technicians, among others. To accomplish these initiatives, the EBAA has fostered collaborations with diverse communities, including government officials, corneal surgeons, Lions Clubs members, researchers, tissue and organ banks, and international organizations, thus continuing to evolve its role in pursuit of an unchanging mission: to champion the restoration of sight.