{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T00:36:25Z","timestamp":1760574985158,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"20","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760140800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: To evaluate the impact of different corneal storage containers\u2014with and without corneal holders\u2014on endothelial cell density (ECD) and endothelial cell loss (ECL) during organ culture, following a temporary shortage of B\u00f6hnke Donor Corneal Holders at a German eye bank. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 383 human donor corneas cultured in six types of containers between January and September 2024 at the Eye Bank of Rhineland-Palatinate. ECD was measured at 6.0 \u00b1 1.2 days (ECD1) and again at 14.9 \u00b1 4.4 days (ECD2) after retrieval using standardized organ culture protocols with an inverted light microscope. Group 1 (G1) used the standard 50 mL Corning\u00ae flask with the B\u00f6hnke corneal holder. Groups 2\u20136 used alternative containers, with or without corneal holders. ECL was defined as the difference between ECD2 and ECD1. Results: Mean overall ECD1 was 2478.3 \u00b1 843.4 cells\/mm2. G1 showed ECD1 &lt; 2000 cells\/mm2 in 29% of corneas and low ECL (\u22121%). The 60 mL Ratiolab\u00ae flask with Cornea-Claw\u00ae was the best alternative, showing the lowest incidence of ECD1 &lt; 2000 cells\/mm2 (7%) and no ECL. Containers without corneal holders, particularly the 100 mL Sterilin\u2122 and 15 mL Cryogenic Tube\u00ae, had significantly higher rates of ECD1 &lt; 2000 (40% and 75%) and greater ECL (9% and 14%). Conclusions: Container design, especially volume and the presence of corneal holders, significantly influences endothelial preservation. Especially a lack of corneal holders led to unacceptable endothelial cell loss. Eye banks should prioritize appropriate flask configurations to minimize tissue deterioration, particularly during supply shortages.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14207165","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,15]],"date-time":"2025-10-15T10:12:29Z","timestamp":1760523149000},"page":"7165","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Impact of the Different Corneal Storage Flasks on Endothelial Cell Loss During Cultivation\u2014A Retrospective Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Tarek","family":"Safi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7116-7236","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carolin Marion","family":"Kolb-Wetterau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Stephanie D.","family":"Grabitz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-0633-2551","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco","family":"Buonfiglio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Melissa","family":"Apel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany"},{"name":"Eye Bank of Rhineland-Palatinate in Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7025-8280","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joanna","family":"Wasielica-Poslednik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany"},{"name":"Eye Bank of Rhineland-Palatinate in Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3142","DOI":"10.4103\/IJO.IJO_1942_23","article-title":"Corneal blindness and eye banking: Current strategies and best practices","volume":"71","author":"Anitha","year":"2023","journal-title":"Indian J. 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