Correlation between Corneal Endothelial Cell Characteristics and Dry Eye Disease by Rania Fahmy in Medical & Surgical Ophthalmology Research
Corneal endothelium is composed of monolayer of hexagonal cells (Figure 1), endothelium constitute the posterior corneal surface. It performs a major function in maintaining the corneal transparency, thickness and hydration [1]. The distinct arrangement of this cell layer (cell mosaic) is an eminent clinical appearance of the cornea, with images being easily captured with a specular microscope [2]. It is around 5|im thick.
The endothelium cell density reduces normally with age because of cell disintegration, ranging from 3000 to 4000cells/ mm2 in children to 1000 to 2000 cells/mm2 at age of 80years [3]. The minimum cell density must be in the range of 400 to700 cells/ mm2 for prompt function of the corneal endothelium. Disruptions to the endothelial mosaic can include an increase in the variation of cell shape (pleomorphism) or size (polymegathism) and endothelial cell loss [4].
Moreover to the physiological aging process, the endothelium can be negatively influenced by disease and trauma [5]. Some diseases can harm the corneal endothelium, such as Fuchs' corneal dystrophy, leading guttae (Figure 2) and corneal edema, Additional trauma during a prolonged cataract surgery especially while extracting a hard lens nucleus [2]. This may end in endothelial cell loss. A significant change in corneal endothelial cell density was found in eyes with moderate to severe dry eye disease [6].
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