This year's Qingming Festival held particular significance for Xiao Wang (pseudonym). Apart from commemorating departed loved ones, he harbored a profound gratitude towards a stranger, one who held immense importance in his life. Xiao Wang, afflicted with keratoconus, underwent a corneal transplant surgery at the Aier Yingzhi Ophthalmology Hospital in Beijing not long ago. This transformative procedure bestowed upon him the gift of sight, allowing him to pursue his studies, all thanks to the generosity of the anonymous donor who contributed their cornea.
Corneal diseases rank as the second leading cause of blindness in China. According to the World Health Organization's Global Data on Visual Impairments report, approximately 4 to 5 million individuals in China are blinded by corneal diseases, with an additional 100,000 new cases of corneal blindness emerging each year. However, the number of patients eligible for corneal transplant surgery falls short of 10,000 annually.
"Due to its avascular and alymphatic properties, the cornea is considered 'relatively immune privileged' tissue. This implies a higher success rate for corneal transplants, approximately around 90%, with a lower incidence of postoperative rejection compared to other organ transplants. However, due to traditional beliefs and insufficient awareness among the public regarding donation avenues, the number of corneal donations still falls significantly short of meeting surgical demands," remarked Zeng Qingyan, Deputy Head of the Cornea and Ocular Surface Department at the Aier Ophthalmology Hospital.
The image shows a cornea. Courtesy of Aier Eye Hospital.
Like Xiao Wang, Mr. Wang also underwent corneal transplant surgery at Aier Yingtelligence Eye Hospital in Beijing recently, with both receiving corneas from the same donor.
In this unique case, the donor had undergone previous femtosecond laser refractive surgery, resulting in a corneal power of 400 diopters due to the procedure. This distinctive situation presented an opportunity for the treatment of both Xiao Wang and Mr. Wang. Xiao Wang suffered from advanced keratoconus, with an eye axial length measuring 25.69mm, equivalent to axial myopia of 400 to 500 diopters, which closely matched the power of the donated cornea. After thorough discussion and careful planning, the hospital successfully performed corneal transplant surgeries for Xiao Wang and Mr. Wang using this unique cornea, respectively.
A doctor is conducting an examination on a patient. Image provided by Ai'er Eye Hospital.
It is reported that dividing a cornea into multiple pieces for transplantation is an effective strategy to increase corneal utilization and alleviate the imbalance between supply and demand. This approach helps more patients with corneal blindness regain their sight. Techniques such as DALK, DSEK/DSAEK, and others allow for targeted layering and transplantation based on the patient's condition, thereby enhancing corneal utilization efficiency and surgical success rates.
