Dehydrated Corneas Show Promise as Alternative to Conventional Donors for Keratoplasty
A new study presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting on October 17-20, 2025, suggests dehydrated corneas are a viable alternative to standard donor corneas for deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), a surgical procedure to treat keratoconus. The research, conducted by a team led by cristina Bovone, MD, and recognized with the 2025 Troutman Prize, indicates no significant difference in visual acuity between patients receiving dehydrated versus standard corneas.
The impetus for the study arose from the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. “During 2 months of complete lockdown in Italy, we could not perform surgery,” explained Dr. Bovone. “Simultaneously occurring, the eye bank had the problem to not waste so much tissue and cornea that they had in the bank.” This led the team to explore the feasibility of utilizing dehydrated corneas, which offer a significantly extended storage life.
Currently,standard donor corneas have a shelf life of approximately 28 days when preserved in organ culture medium. In contrast, dehydrated corneas can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 months before being rehydrated for the procedure. This extended storage capability could be especially beneficial in regions with limited access to donor tissue.
To assess the efficacy of dehydrated corneas, Dr. Bovone and colleagues conducted a prospective, parallel-group, noninferiority trial. A total of 60 patients diagnosed with keratoconus were enrolled, with 30 randomly assigned to receive dehydrated donor corneas and 30 receiving standard organ culture donor corneas for DALK.
The results demonstrated that postoperative best corrected visual acuity was comparable between the two groups. Moreover, there were no statistically significant differences observed in postoperative refractive astigmatism or endothelial cell damage. Notably,all patients in the study achieved complete re-epithelialization within seven days following surgery.
“I can affirm that dehydrated tissue is not inferior to the standard one for DALK surgery,” Dr. Bovone stated.”This is something that helps, especially in regions where there is a lack of tissue.” This finding could significantly broaden access to corneal transplantation for individuals in underserved areas.
The study, titled “Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty using dehydrated versus standard organ culture-stored donor corneas,” offers a promising solution to the ongoing challenge of corneal tissue availability. Dr. Bovone reported no relevant financial disclosures related to the research.
Here’s a breakdown answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions, integrated into a news report style:
why: The study was initiated due to challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the need to preserve donor corneas during lockdown periods when surgeries were postponed. The goal was to find a way to extend the storage life of corneas and reduce tissue waste.
Who: The research was led by dr. Cristina Bovone and her team. The study involved 60 patients diagnosed with keratoconus. The research was recognized with the 2025 Troutman Prize at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.
What: The study investigated whether dehydrated corneas could be used as a viable alternative to standard donor corneas for deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK).The results showed that dehydrated corneas were not inferior to
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