Glycerol preservation: basis

Glycerol is a chemical compound commonly called glycerin. Widely used in pharmaceutical formulations, this colorless, odorless, and viscous liquid has three hydrophilic hydroxyl groups that impart both its solubility in water and its hygroscopic (water-absorbing) nature. As a dehydrating agent, glycerol has properties that make it suitable for long-term storage of corneas for purposes not requiring viable cell layers. Pioneering experimental and clinical studies by J.H. King and associates established the utility of glycerol preservation for tissues destined for lamellar keratoplasties. Dr. King first used corneas preserved in 95% commercial glycerol under vacuum to ensure an anhydrous state. Later, equivalent dehydration was achieved by including in the glycerol molecular sieves. These sodium and calcium alumino-silicates are physical adsorptive agents that remove water to an extremely low vapor pressure. They are placed in every vial containing GSN tissue.

GlycerolPlus Tissue Products from
GLOBAL SIGHT NETWORK

 

WHOLE CORNEA


  Description

  • Whole cornea with a minimum 7.5 mm clear central zone and a scleral rim
  • No scars in the central 7.5 mm zone

  Indications

  • Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty
  • Glaucoma patch
  • Tectonic


HALF CORNEA

 

  Description

  • Half cornea and a scleral rim
  • No minimum clear zone
  • May have scars from IOL, LASIK, or pterygia

  Indications

  • Glaucoma patch
  • Tectonic

Tissues meet these criteria

Donor Eligibility meets the strict donor screening and laboratory testing specifications of the source eye bank and the requirements of the Eye Bank Association (EBAA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

 

Tissues considered suitable by GSN

Are free of stromal infiltrates, radial keratotomy scarring, foreign bodies, and penetrating injuries

Surgeons provide

You and your surgical facility must agree to participate in Global Sight Networkʼs tissue tracking system, which by U.S. law must enable tracking from donor to recipient. As users of donated human tissue for transplantation, you are required to provide recipient information to the Global Sight Network; if you fail to do so, Global Sight Network cannot continue to provide tissue to you or your surgical facility. When a shipment of tissue arrives, each individual tissue is packaged with a form that provides access codes into GSN Green, the data entry arm of the Global Sight Network, to enter recipient information securely into the Global Sight Network database. Alternatively, you may report recipient information by fax, as explained on the form.

Getting started with GSN

If you like the surgical results obtainable by using GlycerolPlus Cornea, and/or you like the security of having surgically adaptable tissue on hand to use anytime, send email to tissue@globalsightnetwork.org to establish an account for your surgical facility.

 

Important Links

1. 

GlycerolPlus Cornea for glaucoma shunt surgery (video)
2.

Instructions for preparing GlycerolPlus Cornea for  glaucoma shunt surgery

 
3. Order form