Review of gamma-irradiated sterile cornea: Properties, indications, and new directions

Gamma-irradiated sterile cornea (GISC) is a relatively new graft tissue that follows the 30-year success of irradiation to other tissues (bone and sclera) to lessen antigenic load and infection transmission. It can serve as a graft to cover glaucoma drainage devices, as graft tissue for frank or impending corneal perforations in tectonic keratoplasty, as graft tissue in lamellar keratoplasty, and as carrier tissue for keratoprosthesis. With the limited availability of fresh corneal tissue in less developed countries, GISC may fill a need for corneal tissue worldwide. It can be used in situations where corneal endothelium is not needed and with a greatly reduced risk of rejection and infection because of the effect of irradiation on corneal tissue.