Ethics in Eye Banking: Understanding Professional Attitudes Toward Industry Changes.

PURPOSE: To describe the ethical attitudes of corneal surgeons and eye bank leadership toward for-profit entities in corneal donation, processing, and distribution. METHODS: Fifty postfellowship corneal surgeons practicing in the United States and 25 eye bank leaders (eg, eye bank directors, CEOs, or presidents) for the Eye Bank Association of America-accredited eye banks completed a 22-question interview, focusing on corneal donation industry changes, including the entry of for-profit institutions. RESULTS: Most participants in both study groups agreed that they have concerns with the entry of for-profit businesses into eye banking (62% corneal surgeons, 68% eye bank leadership), although physicians partnered with a for-profit corneal processor were significantly more likely to have no concerns with the entry of for-profits into eye banking than corneal surgeons partnered with a nonprofit processor (P = 0.04). The most frequently identified concerns with the entry of for-profit businesses into corneal banking were the hypothetical loss of donor trust (56% corneal surgeons, 64% eye bank leadership, P = 0.04) and the potential exploitation of donor generosity (72% corneal surgeons, 60% eye bank leadership). Qualitative theme analysis suggests that both study groups may view increased research/innovation as a potential benefit (64% corneal surgeons, 66% eye bank leadership) of for-profits in eye banking. CONCLUSIONS: Key stakeholders in eye banking do hold relevant ethical beliefs toward recent industry changes, and these attitudes should be considered in the future creation of the ethical corneal donation policy. Further research is needed to assess the attitudes of potential donors and donor families.

Características de la córnea donante mediante microscopia endotelial / Donor cornea characterization by endothelial microscopy

RESUMEN Objetivo: Determinar las características del endotelio corneal mediante microscopia endotelial. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo en córneas donantes del banco de ojos del Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología "Ramón Pando Ferrer" en el período de enero a junio del año 2019. La muestra estuvo conformada por 224 córneas donantes. Las variables del estudio fueron: edad, cirugías previas, gerontoxón, pterigion, defectos epiteliales, infiltrado corneal, opacidad corneal, edema, pigmentos endoteliales, guttas, desprendimiento de la Descemet, densidad celular, hexagonalidad y polimegatismo. Resultados: El gerontoxon fue el hallazgo más frecuente (56,69 por ciento); la densidad celular media fue de 2 501 cel/mm2; el coeficiente de variación medio fue 43,32 y la hexagonalidad media 50,02. La densidad celular endotelial entre 2 000 y 2 500 cel/mm2 fue más frecuente entre 60 y 79 años de edad (76,72 por ciento), mientras que entre 20 y 29 años todas las córneas donantes presentaron una densidad endotelial mayor de 2 500 cel/mm2. Conclusiones: En el examen biomicroscópico de la córnea donante fue más frecuente el gerontoxon. Por microscopia endotelial la mayoría de las córneas fueron aptas para trasplante corneal. Un endotelio corneal con densidad celular mayor de 2 500 cel/mm2 no es exclusivo de córneas con menos de 60 años de edad(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective: Determine the characteristics of the corneal endothelium by endothelial microscopy. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted of donor corneas from the eye bank of Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology from January to June 2019. The sample was 224 donor corneas. The variables analyzed were age, previous surgery, gerontoxon, pterygium, epithelial defects, corneal infiltrate, corneal opacity, edema, endothelial pigments, guttae, Descemet's membrane detachment, cell density, hexagonality and polymegethism. Results: Gerontoxon was the most common finding (56.69 percent), mean cell density was 2 501 cell/mm2, mean variation coefficient was 43.32 and mean hexagonality was 50.02. Endothelial cell density from 2 000 to 2 500 cell/mm2 was more common in the 60-79 years age group (76.72 percent), whereas in the 20-29 years age group all the donor corneas had an endothelial density above 2 500 cell/mm2. Conclusions: Gerontoxon was the most common finding in the biomicroscopic examination of the cornea. Endothelial microscopy found that most corneas were suitable for corneal transplantation. A corneal endothelium with a cell density above 2 500 cell/mm2 is not exclusive of corneas under 60 years of age(AU)

Ethical Issues in Transnational Eye Banking.

PURPOSE: To review ethical issues that may arise in the setting of transnational eye banking activities, such as when exporting or importing corneal tissue for transplantation. METHODS: A principle-based normative analysis of potential common dilemmas in transnational eye banking activities was performed. RESULTS: Transnational activities in eye banking, like those in other fields involving procurement and use of medical products of human origin, may present a number of ethical issues for policy makers and professionals. Key ethical concerns include the potential impact of export or import activities on self-sufficiency of corneal tissue supply within exporting and importing countries; potential disclosure requirements when obtaining consent or authorization for ocular tissue donation when donations may be exported; and difficulties inherent in assuring equity in the allocation of tissues available for export and in establishing and respecting standards of safety and quality across different jurisdictions. CONCLUSIONS: Further analysis of specific ethical issues in eye banking is necessary to inform development of guidelines and other governance tools that will assist policy makers and professionals to support ethical practice.