First Author: M.Solomatin LATVIA
Co Author(s): S. Veldre T. Petrova
Purpose:
To evaluate in vivo confocal microscopic features in patients that undergo screening procedure before cataract surgery.
Setting:
: The study was conducted at the ofthalmology department of Riga South Clinical University Hospital from 01.09.2012 to 01.11.2012.
Methods:
The corneal confocal microscopy was performed using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph equipped with the Rostock cornea module.
Images of the various layers of the cornea were acquired at the optical center of the cornea. The acquired images consisted of 384 x 384 pixels over a 400 x 400 mkm field of view with a transversal resolution of about 2 mkm and a longitudinal resolution of 4 mkm.
114 eyes of 63 patients were screened for before the cataract surgery to analyze the preoperative endothelium cell density and morphology.
Results:
Study involved 46 women and 17 men (accordingly, 73% and 27%).
Mean preoperative endothelium cell density was 2096± 62 cell/mm2
In 6 cases, that is 9,52% of all patients, there were Fuchs dystrophy diagnosed during the screening, and the surgery plan was changed from standart cataract surgery to combined cataract surgery and endothelial keratoplasty. The Fuchs dystrophy was diagnosed only in women group. The average age of the Fuchs dystrophy patient is 72 years.
In one case, the exogenous pigment dyspersion was diagnosed in all corneal layers.
Conclusions:
The confocal microscopy is safe and useful screening procedure before cataract surgery that helps to evaluate the endothelial cell dencity, morphology, as also the morphological features of other corneal histological structures. The information that the confocal microscope provides helps the surgeon to select the right surgery plan for cataract patient.
Financial Disclosure:
None
