PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - A Müller AU - J P Craig AU - C N Grupcheva AU - C N J McGhee TI - The effects of corneal parameters on the assessment of endothelial cell density in the elderly eye AID - 10.1136/bjo.2003.019315 DP - 2004 Mar 01 TA - British Journal of Ophthalmology PG - 325--330 VI - 88 IP - 3 4099 - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/3/325.short 4100 - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/3/325.full SO - Br J Ophthalmol2004 Mar 01; 88 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.