Purpose: To analyze the number of discarded donated corneas and the causes associated with discard in southern Brazil.
Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional, and analytic study of donor corneal discards and their associated factors and geospatial distribution was based on a macroregional strategy conducted from 2011 to 2015 in Paraná, southern Brazil. The dataset included all cornea donations from patients who died of cardiac arrest at ages between 3 and 70 years.
Results: A total of 9290 donor corneas were identified from 4645 donor patients; of these corneas, 4235 (45.6%) were discarded and 5055 (54.4%) transplanted. Mean age of the donors was 51.13 ± 14.30 years. The main causes of discard were positive serology (49.6%), corneal viability (19.8%), corneal tissue quality (8.5%), and others (16.0%). The discard rate was higher in the 50 to 64 year age group.
Conclusions: The corneal discard rate was high in all macroregions studied, with positive serology, viability, and quality of the donated corneas being the main causes of discard. Discards were more prevalent in older age groups (50-64 years and 65 or above age groups). Considering the presented results, the assessment process of potential cornea donors should be changed to reduce losses and costs.