Changes in corneal endothelial cell density in patients with normal-tension glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To study the changes in corneal endothelial cell density in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma compared with those in controls.


METHODS
A total of 227 subjects in three groups, one each of normal-tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma patients and one of normal controls, were studied from January 2008 to July 2008 in the Ophthalmology Department of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. The glaucoma (normal-tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma) patients included monocular and binocular glaucoma patients. Corneal endothelial cells were examined using a noncontact specular microscope.


RESULTS
The mean endothelial cell densities in the three groups were as follows: normal-tension glaucoma group, 2696.7+/-303.9 cell/mm2; primary open-angle glaucoma group, 2370.5+/-392.3 cell/mm2; and normal group, 2723.6+/-300.6 cell/mm2. The endothelial cell count was not significantly different between normal-tension glaucoma and normal groups (P=1.000). Primary open-angle glaucoma patients had significantly lower endothelial cell counts (P<0.001) than the normal group. The endothelial cell count was also significantly lower in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma than in normal-tension glaucoma eyes (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant decrease in corneal endothelial cell density in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma, but not in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma. Elevated intraocular pressure likely affected the decrease of corneal endothelial cell density in eyes with glaucoma.
Cho
Sung Woo
SW
Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Joon Mo
JM
Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea. kjoonmo@dreamwiz.com.|Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, 108 Pyung-Dong, Jongro-Ku, Seoul, 110-746, Korea. kjoonmo@dreamwiz.com.
Choi
Chul Young
CY
Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Ki Ho
KH
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University School of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies