RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Age-related differences in the normal human cornea: a laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy study
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 1165
OP 1169
DO 10.1136/bjo.2006.112656
VO 91
IS 9
A1 R L Niederer
A1 D Perumal
A1 T Sherwin
A1 C N J McGhee
YR 2007
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/91/9/1165.abstract
AB Aims: To quantify and establish baseline normative data for age-related differences in cellular and innervation density in the normal, healthy, human cornea using laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy.Methods: Cross-sectional study of 85 normal subjects assessed via corneal topography and laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy.Results: Mean age was 38±16 years (range 18–87 years) and 60% of subjects were female. Anterior keratocyte density declined by 0.9% per year (r = −0.423, p<0.001), posterior keratocyte density declined by 0.3% per year (r = −0.250, p = 0.021) and endothelial cell density declined by 0.5% per year (r = −0.615, p<0.001). Sub-basal nerve fibre density declined by 0.9% per year (r = −0.423, p<0.001). No association was observed between age and basal epithelial cell density, or between age and central corneal thickness, corneal astigmatism or horizontal corneal diameter (p>0.05). No association was observed between subject gender and corneal cell or innervation density.Conclusions: Using laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy this study highlights a significant, and relatively linear, reduction in keratocyte and endothelial cell density with increasing subject age. Interestingly, corneal sub-basal nerve fibre density also significantly decreases with increasing age. In vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy provides a safe, non-invasive method for the establishment of normative data and assessment of alterations in human corneal microstructure following surgery or disease processes.