Corneal Endothelial Cell Density in Uveal Coloboma Associated With Microcornea.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between endothelial cell density (ECD) and mean corneal diameter (MCD) in eyes with uveal coloboma associated with microcornea.

METHODS: Corneal endothelial cell imaging was performed using specular microscopy on 22 eyes of 18 subjects diagnosed with uveal coloboma associated with microcornea. The MCD was noted as the average of horizontal and vertical corneal diameters, which were measured using the ruler tool of the slit-lamp biomicroscope and Castroviejo calipers.

RESULTS: Mean age of the study subjects was 29.7 ± 10.4 years (range, 14-46 years). The MCD was 7.3 ± 1.1 mm (range, 4.9-9 mm). Mean ECD (3436 ± 316.2 cells/mm) of the study subjects was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher than the mean ECD (2761.8 ± 140.9 cells/mm) of age-matched (range, 10-40 years) normal eyes with no ocular pathology. The pleomorphism and polymegathism were comparable between the 2 groups. Regression analysis showed that MCD had a significant negative (R = -0.55; P = 0.02) relationship with ECD.

CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with congenital uveal coloboma associated with microcornea have increased ECD. Increased ECD may be partly due to a reduced posterior corneal surface area in microcornea.