Changes in the normal corneal endothelial cellular pattern as a function of age

Abstract

Human endothelial morphologic changes were quantitated by specular microscopy and computer-assisted morphometry to establish normal baselines of various morphologic parameters. Cellular polymegethism and cellular pleomorphism increases with age, and normal baseline parameters are detailed. Furthermore, no significant difference in any morphologic parameters between the right and left eye and between central and peripheral endothelium was detected in the normal corneas examined. These normal morphologic baselines can possibly be utilized to detect early corneal endothelial pathology and/or cell loss nondetectable by cell density measurement.