Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group
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2023 OMIG Abstract

222 nm UV Light Efficacy Against Fungal Species and Safety for Donor Corneal Endothelium

Andres Serrano¹, Manuela Buonanno², David Welch ², Camryn Petersen², Stephen L. Trokel¹,
David J. Brenner ², and Leejee H. Suh<sup>1

1</sup>Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, NY; ²Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY

Purpose: Donor corneal tissue for corneal transplantation is currently stored in media that contains antibacterial components. Even though post-keratoplasty fungal infections are rare, they can be devastating. However, the addition of antifungal medication in corneal storage media may raise concerns about graft survival following transplantation due to a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect. In the present study, we assessed the efficacy of far-UVC against the most common causes of post-keratoplasty fungal keratitis and its safety for the endothelium of donor corneas.

Methods: To assess efficacy, we generated a dose-response curve of Candida albicans and glabrata to far-UVC. To assess safety, research donor corneas were removed from the storage media, placed into a dish with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and the endothelial surface was exposed to different doses of 222 nm and 254 nm light. Endothelial damage was assessed by alizarin red S/trypan blue staining 24 hours after the exposition.

Results: Far-UVC showed high efficacy by a 99.9% reduction of colony-forming units (CFU) assay in Candida spp. at a dose of ~33 mJ/cm². Also, no evidence of cell loss and negative staining was present in the endothelial cells 24 hours after being exposed to a dose of 100 mJ/cm² of far-UVC. Yet, there was a loss of endothelial cells and positive staining when exposed to 100 mJ/cm² of 254 nm, and 200 mJ/cm² of 222 nm light, indicating cell damage.

Conclusions: Far-UVC light significantly reduced the most common causes of post-keratoplasty fungal keratitis in vitro. Additionally, a dose of 100 mJ/cm² of 222 nm light showed safety for donor corneal endothelium. These findings suggest that further studies should be conducted to determine an effective and safe dose of far-UVC light that may work as an adjuvant method for donor corneal sterilization to help achieve broader coverage that is currently unavailable.

Disclosure: N

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