Eye bank procedures: donor selection criteria

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia Vol. 81; no. 1; pp. 73 - 79
• Main Authors: Sousa, Sidney Júlio de Faria E, Sousa, Stella Barretto de Faria E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia 01.01.2018
• Subjects: OPHTHALMOLOGY; Seleção do doador; Tissue and organ harvesting; Bancos de olhos/normas; Corneal transplantation; Transplante de córnea; Donor selection; Coleta de tecidos e órgãos; Eye banks/standards
• ISSN: 0004-2749; 1678-2925; 1678-2925
• DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.20180017

Eye banks use sterile procedures to manipulate the eye, antiseptic measures for ocular surface decontamination, and rigorous criteria for donor selection to minimize the possibility of disease transmission due to corneal grafting. Donor selection focuses on analysis of medical records and specific post-mortem serological tests. To guide and standardize procedures, eye bank associations and government agencies provide lists of absolute and relative contraindications for use of the tissue based on donor health history. These lists are guardians of the Hippocratic principle "primum non nocere." However, each transplantation carries risk of transmission of potentially harmful agents to the recipient. The aim of the procedures is not to eliminate risk, but limit it to a reasonable level. The balance between safety and corneal availability needs to be maintained by exercising prudence without disproportionate rigor.