Assessment of Age Changes in Corneal Endothelial Cell Count among Emmetropes Using Non-Contact Specular Microscope in Suez Canal University, Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic

Abstract

Background: The human corneal endothelial cells are non-regenerating cells that are primarily hexagonal in shape. Corneal endothelium is metabolically active and serves an essential function in the maintenance of corneal transparency. It is able to accomplish this by pumping water out of the stroma and into the aqueous humor. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate corneal endothelial cell density and morphology among different age groups of emmetropic individuals. Patients and Methods: This study involved eighty eyes of forty subjects classified into 5 age groups. Evaluation of corneal endothelium in emmetropic participants was performed by specular microscopy. Results: When comparing endothelial cell density (ECD), there was a highly significant age disparity. There was a statistically significant distinction in HEX% among the age ranges surveyed, while we found an increasing coefficient of variation (CV) percentage with increasing age. Conclusion: We discovered a statistically significant difference in ECD and morphology across the various age groups, which led us to conclude that age has a substantial impact on corneal endothelial cell density and morphology.