Corneal grafts procurement and number of patients on waiting lists

Objectives: Analyze annual corneal graft procurement and transplantation in France. Methods: Data collected from all public and private health centers in France in a survey conducted in August 1994 by the general health directory were analyzed by the French Graft authorities. Results: Between 1990 and the first semester 1994, an annual mean of 3205 corneal grafts were performed in France. The annual number of grafts fell by 27% between 1991 and 1992 then stabilized at 2700 grafts per year. Eighty percent of the grafts were performed in public institutions. Less than 4% of the patients were foreigners. The number of patients on waiting lists on June 30, 1994 was 7129, i.e. 2.7 times the number of transplantations in 1993. Mean annual cornea procurement between 1991 and the first semester 1994 was 2930. Corneas were removed at the morgue in 78% of the cases or in the operating room in 19% (multiple organ procurement) and 1.5% (cornea alone). Grafted corneas came from public hospitals in 72% of the cases. Fifty-seven percent of the grafts used in private institutions were imported. The mean annual number of imported corneas can be estimated at 280. This number has increased by 127% since 1990 and corresponds to 8% of the grafted corneas. Conclusion: The number of corneal grafts in France is similar to that in other European countries, but the number of patients on waiting lists is high and French eye banks had a restricted role.