Corneal Endothelial Cell Density and Morphology in Healthy Egyptian Eyes

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the corneal endothelial cell density and morphology in normal Egyptian eyes. Methods. In total, 568 healthy eyes of 568 Egyptian volunteers aged 20 to 85 years were examined using noncontact specular microscopy for the central corneal thickness (CCT), mean endothelial cell density (MCD), coefficient of variation (CV) in cell area, mean cell area (MCA), and hexagonal cell (Hex) percentage. Variables were compared between sexes and between different age groups. Results. The mean CCT, MCD, and MCA were 514.45 ± 43.04 μm, 2647.50 ± 382.62 cells/mm2, and 390.59 ± 149.94 μm2, respectively. MCD and MCA showed no significant differences between men and women (P=0.171 and 0.099, respectively), whereas CV (%) and Hex (%) showed significant differences (P=0.024 and 0.015, respectively). CCT (P=0.007, r = −0.113) and MCD (P<0.001, r = −0.357) exhibited a significant negative correlation with age, whereas CV (%) (P<0.001, r = 0.341) and MCA (P=0.008, r = 0.111) exhibited a significant positive correlation. The mean rate of endothelial cell loss from 20 to 85 years of age was 0.3% per year. Conclusions. Our results provide normative data for the corneal endothelium in healthy Egyptian eyes, thus increasing the knowledge base for corneal endothelial cell parameters in healthy Egyptian eyes. Furthermore, our findings can be used as baseline values for comparisons between Egyptian and other populations and for studies of the endothelial cell reserve and capacity for intraocular surgery and corneal transplantation.

Corneal Thickness and Endothelial Morphology in Normal Thai Eyes

“…In general, the cornea becomes edematous if the CECs decrease or loss of function. This study demonstrated that the CCT decreased with increasing age and this was similar to studies in Lithuania [23], Turkish [13] and Egyptian [14] populations (Table 4). Müller et al investigated the ECD and corneal thickness in different areas of the cornea in elderly eyes using the confocal microscopy and corneal topography (Orbscan II).…”

“…Table 4 The mean ECD in this study was 2732 ± 258 cell/mm 2 , which was similar to the results from other studies using non-contact specular microscope in normal eyes (Table 4). These included Filipino (2798 ± 307) [11], Malay (2648 ± 310) [12], Turkish (2732 ± 307) [13], Egyptian (2647 ± 387) [14], Nigerian (2610 ± 371) [15], and Indian(2525 ± 337) [16]. The mean ECD in Thai eyes was lower than those of Japanese (2943 ± 387) [17] and Chinese (2932 ± 363) [18], but higher than the results of Iranian(1961 ± 457) [19].…”

“…These findings were different from studies in the Filipino [11] and Japanese population [17], in which women had significantly greater ECD than that in men. Some studies including Malay [12], Turkish [13], Iranian [19], and Egyptian [14] found no significant differences of mean ECD between genders.…”

Corneal Thickness and Endothelial Morphology in Normal Thai Eyes

“…The annual endothelial cell loss rate in this study was 0.23%, which was similar to the results in Chinese (0.3%) [18], Indian (0.3%) [16], Egyptian (0.3%) [14], and Japanese (0.25%) [17], while this was lower than those from the Middle East and Caucasians i.e. Iran (0.6%) [19].…”

“…The mean ECD in this study was 2732 ± 258 cell/mm 2 , which was similar to the results from other studies using non-contact specular microscope in normal eyes (Table 4). These included Filipino (2798 ± 307) [11] , Malay (2648 ± 310) [12], Turkish (2732 ± 307) [13], Egyptian (2647 ± 387) [14],…”