Corneal endothelium--past, present, and future.
OBJECTIVE
To review the history of the growth in knowledge about the corneal endothelium.


METHODS
Publications concerning the corneal endothelium were reviewed.


RESULTS
Highpoints in the growth of knowledge about the corneal endothelium include discovery of barrier and pump functions, specular microscopy, reduction in surgical trauma, corneal preservation, and future advances.


CONCLUSIONS
The highpoints in the history of the growth in knowledge about the corneal endothelium were elucidated.
Bourne
William M
WM
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. bourne.william@mayo.edu
D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends*; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends