Stages and costs of processing donated corneas for transplantation in eye banks: a scoping review

Abstract

The objective was to map the stages and costs of processing donated corneal tissue for transplantation in Eye Banks. The method followed the JBI Institute Reviewer's Manual, and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines were adopted for reporting, to answer the question: "What are the stages and costs of processing donated corneal tissue for transplantation in Eye Banks?" Studies considered for inclusion comprised qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, observational, experimental, quasi-experimental studies, reviews, institutional documents, manuals, theses, and dissertations, all available in full text and open access, with no restrictions on language or publication period. Information sources included PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), the Virtual Health Library, and gray literature databases. The systematic search resulted in the final inclusion of seven studies. The results identified an operational workflow comprising three main phases: corneal selection and recovery, processing and evaluation, and the pre-surgical stage. The review revealed extensive variation in evaluation and discard/disqualification protocols across institutions and countries, especially in those with decentralized regulation. A lack of cost analyses and economic data was identified. In conclusion, although the processing workflow was mapped, the lack of protocol uniformity and, above all, the absence of cost data limit the understanding of financial impact and the sustainability of Eye Banks, reinforcing the need for future research with an economic focus and the development of standardized indicators.