Practice patterns of corneal transplantation in Europe: first report by the European Cornea and Cell Transplantation Registry

Purpose: To report practice patterns of corneal transplantation in Europe.

Setting: Corneal clinics in 10 European member states (MS), the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

Design: Multinational registry study.

Methods: Corneal transplant procedures registered in the European Cornea and Cell Transplantation Registry were identified. Preoperative donor and recipient characteristics, indication and reason for transplantation, and surgical techniques were analyzed.

Results: A total of 12 913 corneal transplants were identified from 10 European Union MS, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Most countries were self-sufficient with regard to donor tissue. Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy was the most common indication (41%, n = 5325), followed by regraft (16%, n = 2108), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (12%, n = 1594), and keratoconus (12%, n = 1506). Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK, 46%, n = 5918) was the most commonly performed technique, followed by penetrating keratoplasty (30%, n = 3886) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (9%, n = 1838). Vision improvement was the main reason for corneal transplantation (90%, n = 11 591). Surgical technique and reason for transplantation differed between indications.

Conclusions: This report provides the most comprehensive overview of corneal transplantation practice patterns in Europe to date. Fuchs endothelial dystrophy is the most common indication, vision improvement the leading reason, and DSAEK the predominant technique for corneal transplantation.