A comparison between keratoconus and normal population based corneal endothelium

In this study were focused on corneal cells changes in keratoconus disease, as there are differences between results of other studies that were done on keratokonic eyes. And the chief purpose was a comparison between keratoconus and normal population based corneal endothelium (in cell density, pleomorphism and polymegethism of cells). This study is an observational study and is a case-control type. This study was done in Farabi Ophthalmology Hospital, Tehran, from September 2013 to February 2014. In this study, 26 mild (corneal power is lower than 48 diopter) and moderate (corneal power is between 48 to 54 diopter) keratoconic eyes (case group) with no history of contact lenses wear or eye surgeries were compared with 25 normal eyes (control group) that corneal power based topographic images is lower than 47.2 diopter. This comparison were done based specular microscopy images which were taken by Noncontact (Topcan Sp-2000 P) specular microscope in 5 corneal regions (central, superior, inferior, nasal, temporal). Then the information related to the cell density, Coefficient of Variation (CV) of polymegethism and pleomorphism of cells were analyzed by SPSS software, version 21 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Superior corneal region has the largest amount of endothelial cell density in case and control groups (P<0.001). But the effects of keratoconus on the cell density was not significant (P=0.96). And also CV of polymegethism in two groups (case and control groups), was similar (P=0.828). Pleomorphism was seen in 7 eyes of 26 eyes in case group (26.9%) and 6 eyes of 25 eyes in control group (24%). Keratoconus does not have any considerable effect on cell density, polymegethism and pleomorphism, in mild and moderate stages and corneal opacity risk caused by intraocular surgeries (such as: Cataract or Glaucoma surgeries) and some diseases (such as diabetes and uveitis) is similar in keratoconic and normal eyes.