Современные взгляды на трансплантацию роговицы

In health, the cornea is a transparent and avascular connective tissue that provides protective and refractive components that contribute to visual function. Numerous degenerative, dystrophic, infectious, inflammatory or traumatic conditions can compromise corneal clarity, all with the potential to cause visual loss. Corneal disease is the third leading cause of blindness worldwide after cataracts and glaucoma.^1,2 Infectious eye diseases such as trachoma remain the leading cause of corneal blindness in the developing world, whereas degenerative or iatrogenic causes such as Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) are more common in developed countries. Once corneal clarity is lost, transplantation is the current therapeutic intervention of choice with the goal of improving visual acuity.