Corneal endothelial characteristics and central corneal thickness in a population of Turkish cataract patients

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess corneal endothelial characteristics and central corneal thickness (CCT) in a population of Turkish cataract patients and to define the impact of age and gender on these parameters. METHODS: Five hundred and seventeen cataract patients were examined with noncontact specular microscope preoperatively. The eye planned to be operated was selected for analysis. The parameters measured were endothelial cell density (ECD), cell area (CA), coefficient of variation (CV) of the CA, percentage of hexagonal cells (PHCs), and CCT. RESULTS: The mean values in ECD, CA, CV, PHC, and CCT in all eyes were 2,258±474 cells per square millimeter, 468±130 μm, 39%±7%, 49%±12%, and 500±37 μm, respectively. Regression analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in ECD (R=-0.169, P<0.0001), increase in CA (R=0.186, P<0.0001), and decrease in the CCT (R=-0.122, P=0.006) with increase in age. The changes in the CV (R=0.008, P=0.861) and PHC (R=-0,060, P=0.177) were not found to be dependent on age. The parameters showed no sex differences. The number of eyes with ECD below 1,000 and 2,000 cells per square millimeter was 5 (0.97%) and 130 (25.1%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The data from our study emphasize that age, but not gender, is the main determinant of ECD.