The Examination of Corneal Endothelial Cells and Center Corneal Thickness in the Senile Patients before Cataract Surgery

Objective:To explore the function and morphology of corneal endothelial cells in the senile patients needing cataract surgery. Methods: The data collected from 66 left eyes of the senile patients (at least 80 years old) were retrospectively analyzed by using non-contact automatic specular microscope (TOPCON SP3000P). The following parameters were included: the density and size of endothelial cells, the percentage of hexagonal cells and the central corneal thickness. u-test was used in this study. Results: The average density of endothelial cells was (2720.3±324.6)/mm2, the average cell size (375.4±70.3)μm2, ranging from a maximum size of (922.1±243.5)μm2 to a minimum size of (131.2±40.2) μm2. The standard deviation of the average cell size was (143.5±34.8) μm2 and variation 38.0%±7.3%. The ratio of hexagonal cells was 52.8%±10.1%. There was no correlation between central corneal thickness and the density of corneal endothelial cells. Conclusion: The endothelial cell density is high in the senil cataract patients, which indicates that the corneal function of the senile patients is normal. The high density maintains the corneal transparency and will facilitate surgery.