Posterior corneal folds and endothelial cell damage in human donor eyes.

Posterior folds in human donor corneas stored as whole eyes in moist chambers, or isolated in McCarey-Kaufman medium at 4 degrees C, have been studied by light and scanning electron microscopy to determine whether or not endothelial cells on the folds are damaged. Extensive, often irreversible cell damage was found associated with most of the folds. Hence posterior folds in donor corneas are of importance in that they indirectly reduce the quality of the donor cornea for transplantation.