EC Ophthalmology

The cornea is the most transplanted and most needed tissue and part of the body in the world. Vision loss, cases of blindness and moderate or severe visual impairment increase day by day, varying from region to region and from continent to continent. and only this tissue can be obtained from a person who died of brain death or circulatory death. It is a body tissue that is donated, through the human values of generosity, altruism and will of the donor who makes use of his or her right to autonomy and self-determination.

The donated cornea is processed and analyzed at a local eye bank to verify that its use is safe, where a biomicroscopic examination of the anterior pole is performed with the slit lamp, assessing the state of the epithelium, stroma and corneal endothelium. to detect possible injuries to these structures. Once properly reviewed, and if it is suitable, a corneal transplant is performed, a surgical procedure in which part of the cornea of a recipient person is replaced with corneal tissue from a donor. Many people participate in this process from the detection of the cornea donor to its implantation; the intensivist doctor, the transplant coordinator, eye banks, ophthalmological surgeons essential in the management of viable and adequate tissues. Therefore, the objective of this reflection is to understand the process of operational management of corneal donation and transplantation.

 Keywords: Corneal Tissue; Corneal Donor; Corneal Transplant; Transplant Coordinator

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