The Australian corneal graft registry: 2021/22 report

The Australian Corneal Graft Registry (ACGR) opened in May 1985 and has now been operating for 37 years. Over the years, we have collected information on more than 40,000 corneal grafts.

At registration, we seek information on the donor, eye bank practices, the recipient, the surgeon, the graft type and the operative procedure. Follow-up then occurs at approximately yearly intervals for an indefinite period, and ceases upon graft failure, or the death or loss-to-follow-up of the patient. At each round of follow-up, we request information on the survival of the graft, the visual outcomes, and relevant post-operative events and treatments.

We have analysed all grafts performed up to 31-12-2020 and registered with the Australian Corneal Graft Registry up to a census date of 31-03-2021. Penetrating keratoplasties (PKs), traditional lamellar keratoplasties (TLKs), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasties (DALKs), and the various forms of endothelial cell keratoplasty (DSEKs/DSAEKs and DMEKs) have been examined separately.