Safety of Moxifloxacin and Voriconazole in Corneal Storage Media on Porcine Corneal Endothelial Cells

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of moxifloxacin and voriconazole as a supplement in corneal storage media for porcine corneal endothelial cells. METHODS: Twenty-eight eyes were divided into 4 groups. In the control group (the C group), corneal buttons were stored for 3 days in Optisol-GS. In the treatment group, the corneal buttons were preserved for 3 days in Optisol-GS mixed with 250 microg/mL moxifloxacin (M group), 100 microg/mL voriconazole (V group), and 250 microg/mL moxifloxacin plus 100 microg/mL voriconazole (MV group). We evaluated the samples via specular microscopy before and after 3 days of preservation. The mean changes of endothelial cell counts were compared among the 4 groups. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted after 3 days of preservation. RESULTS: Before the preservation, the endothelial cell counts did not differ among the 4 groups (P > 0.05). After 3 days of preservation, the endothelial cell count in the MV group was the lowest among the 4 groups (P < 0.05). After 3 days of preservation, the rate of corneal endothelial cell loss in the M and V groups did not differ significantly from the control group (P > 0.05). The rate of endothelial cell loss in the MV group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed a normal mosaic pattern for the C, V, and F groups, but hexagonality was not preserved in the MV group. CONCLUSION: Preservation in Optisol-GS mixed with moxifloxacin (250 microg/mL) plus voriconazole (100 microg/mL) induced significant toxicity on the endothelial cells in porcine corneas, when compared with the control group.