Article Text
Abstract
AIM To assess uniformity of the corneal endothelial cell mosaic in children.
METHODS 36 healthy children (5–11 years old, 16 boys, 20 girls) were assessed by specular microscopy. Endothelial cell density (ECD) was calculated from measured cell areas, and the number of sides/cell noted.
RESULTS Average values for ECD and cell areas were 3987 cells/mm2 (95% CI 3806 to 4168 cells/mm2) and 278 (SD 85) μm2respectively, with normal distribution (COV 28.2%, range 17.4 to 39.2%) and with the average percentage of six sided cells being 66.6% (8.8%). Cell area was positively correlated to number of cell sides (p <0.01, r 2=0.993), but the percentage of six sided cells was negatively correlated to ECD (p <0.01, r=0.493).
CONCLUSION A high ECD occurs in children, but this does not mean there is a high percentage of “hexagons”.
- corneal endothelial cell organisation
- children