Variation of corneal endothelium of donor with keratoplasty

Objective To investigate changes in the human corneal endothelium of donor eyeballs and postoperative grafts with advanced wild field specular microscope.Methods Endothelial cell density(ECD),average cell area,coefficient of variation of cell area(CV) and percentage of hexagonal cell were compared for 15 donor corneas that underwent a penetrating keratoplasty.The preoperative data were compared with those obtained in postoperative 2～6 weeks,3～6 months,7～11 months and 1～1.5 years.Results (1)The loss rates of the corneal endothelium were 12.17%,21.91%,26.55% and 29.28% in postoperative 2～6 weeks,3～6 months,7～11 months and 1～1.5 years respectively.(2)The average cell area of the donor corneal endothelium increased from preoperative 457.06μm~2 to 646.34μm\+2 in 1～1.5 years postoperatively.The CV increased from 52.42% to 62.32%.(3)The percentage of hexagonal cells of donor corneal endothelium decreased from 41.74% to 28.08% after operation 1～1.5 years.Conclusions (1)After penetrating keratoplasty,the density of donor corneal endothelium decreased,but the loss rates of corneal endothelium increased especially after operation 3～6 months,and did less postoperatively 7～11 months.The average cell area and CV increased gradually.The percentage of standard hexagonal clls decreased and the non-hexagonal cells increased.(2)All grafts were transparent,and corneal thickness was in the normal range,and had good correct acuity vision on penetrating keratoplasty.So that operation is important means for treating corenal leucoma and other diseases.