Purpose: Qualification process of corneal grafts in tissue banks includes two optical inspections and corresponding criteria on: the transparency and the endothelial cell density (ECD). However, these two analyses are prone to subjectivity and variability with the operator. Currently, the overall qualification process rejects about half of all harvested corneas. This study examines the potential of an alternative or complementary optical remote sensing technique for quantitatively assessing the transparency of corneal grafts. In addition, the proposed deswelling kinetics monitoring could provide information on the quality of the endothelium. Methods: Thirty-two human corneas deemed unsuitable for transplantation (sourced from 20 donors with average age: 74 ± 11 years; initial ECD: 2310 ± 525 cells/mm²) were analysed using a laser-light scatterometry instrument which precisely quantifies the total integrated scatter (TIS) of backscattered light. Repeated measurements were conducted over a 24-hour deswelling period in standardized medium, and TIS values were jointly analysed with the evolution of corneal thickness and compared among corneas with varying ECD. Results: Higher sensitivity of scatterometry over pachymetry was confirmed to monitor deswelling kinetics. Optically-monitored deswelling kinetics revealed that repeated deswelling cycles significantly accelerate the deswelling kinetics, suggesting altered or adaptive endothelial function upon repeated swelling/deswelling cycles. Results show tissue conservation time as a key influencing factor of the kinetics, and that corneas with higher ECD tend to deswell faster, in agreement with previous findings. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that optical scatterometry measurements offer an objective, reproducible and contact-free tool for evaluating corneal transparency and, potentially, hydration dynamics of the tissue.