RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The effects of corneal parameters on the assessment of endothelial cell density in the elderly eye JF British Journal of Ophthalmology JO Br J Ophthalmol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. SP 325 OP 330 DO 10.1136/bjo.2003.019315 VO 88 IS 3 A1 A Müller A1 J P Craig A1 C N Grupcheva A1 C N J McGhee YR 2004 UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/3/325.abstract AB Background: The possible impact of corneal thickness, curvature, and size on the measurement of endothelial cell density (ECD) has largely been ignored in the normal eye. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible impact of the main corneal parameters on the analysis of ECD values at the central, superior, and temporal parts of the corneal surface. Methods: All 75 participants (52 females, 23 males) were assessed as part of a pre-cataract surgery investigation. The mean age was 75.7 (SD 10.9) years. Confocal microscopy was used to measure ECD and the percentage of six sided cells at the central, superior, and temporal parts of the cornea. The Orbscan II topography system was used to measure corneal thickness, topography, and horizontal corneal diameter. Results: The mean central ECD measured was 2488 (SD 301) cells/mm2, compared with 2525 (SD 505) cells/mm2 in the temporal cornea and 2639 (SD 398) cells/mm2 in the superior cornea. The regional differences in ECD were not significant (p>0.14). The central ECD was significantly correlated to the central (mean 0.593 (SD 0.039) mm, p = 0.021) as well as the temporal (0.628 (SD 0.039) mm, p<0.001) and the superior corneal thickness (SD 0.644 (SD 0.048) mm, p = 0.018). The mean corneal curvature at the centre (7.7 (SD 0.34) mm, p = 0.002) as well as 3 and 5 mm from the apex was significantly related to ECD (p = 0.008 and p = 0.009, respectively). Conclusions: The study suggests that in an older population, lower ECD values would be expected in thinner and/or steeper corneas.