Posters

Corneal endothelial cell density in different forms of glaucoma

Poster Details

First Author: K. Novak Lauš CROATIA

Co Author(s):    M. Simic-Prskalo   G. Maric                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study corneal endothelial cell density in different forms of glaucoma, and compare them to controls.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital Center Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Methods:

46 patients with glaucoma were compared to 20 patients without glaucoma of the same age group. Exclusion criteria included history of either corneal disease, ocular inflammation, trauma or previous surgery.The following data were extracted: glaucoma form and duration, glaucoma medications and documented intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. Specular microscopies were performed on central corneas and cell counts were calculated.

Results:

Corneal endothelial cell counts were significantly lower in patients with glaucoma (2,154 ± 419 cells/mm²) than in controls (2,560±306 cells/mm²; t test, p<0,0001). Cell counts were significantly lower in primary open-angle glaucoma, exfoliative glaucoma, primary angle closure glaucoma. There is a significant decrease in the corneal endothelial cell density in eyes that have had a acute attack of angle closure glaucoma (p<0,0001). In the glaucoma group, cell counts were inversely proportional to the means of IOPs. Patients receiving three or four glaucoma medications had lower cell counts than those receiving one or two medications.

Conclusions:

This study suggests that patients with glaucoma may have lower corneal endothelial cell density than those without glaucoma of the same age group. The proposed mechanisms are direct damage from IOP and glaucoma medication toxicity

Financial Disclosure:

NONE