title: The effect of 193 nm excimer laser radiation on the human corneal endothelial cell density.
abstract: The effect of 193 nm excimer laser radiation on human corneal endothelial cell density was examined. Fifty-five eyes from 35 patients underwent photorefractive keratectomy for myopia. Photomicrographs of the endothelium were taken a short time before the operation and on an average of 7 months postoperatively with a specular microscope. The average endothelial cell densities were preoperatively 3375 +/- 266 cell/mm2 (mean +/- SD) and postoperatively 3348 +/- 287 cells/mm2, corresponding to a fall of 27 cells/mm2 (N = 55). This fall in endothelial cell density was not statistically significant. A significant correlation between the change in cell density and age of the patient was found, with older patients losing more cells (N = 35, 2p < 0.05). The magnification of the specular microscope was found to change with corneal thickness. The importance of correcting the endothelial cell densities for corneal thickness is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Arhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Isager
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Hjortdal
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ehlers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D014792:Visual Acuity