History of corneal transplantation in Australia. (8th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coster, Douglas J
• Is Part Of: Clinical & experimental ophthalmology. Volume 43:Number 3(2015)
• Page Start: 268
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2014-10-08
• Subjects: Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1111/ceo.12408
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1442-6404

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Corneal transplantation is a triumph of modern ophthalmology. The possibility of corneal transplantation was first raised in 1797 but a century passed before Zirm achieved the first successful penetrating graft in 1905. Gibson reported the first corneal graft in Australia from Brisbane in 1940 and English established the first eye bank there a few years later. Corneal transplantation evolved steadily over the twentieth century. In the second half of the century, developments in microsurgery, including surgical materials such as monofilament nylon and strong topical steroid drops, accounted for improvements in outcomes. In 2013, approximately 1500 corneal transplants were done in Australia. Eye banking has evolved to cope with the rising demands for donor corneas. Australian corneal surgeons collaborated to establish and support the Australian Corneal Graft Registry in 1985. It follows the outcomes of their surgery and has become an important international resource for surgeons seeking further improvement with the procedure.</p> </abstract>