Corneal Changes in Myopia in a Tertiary Centre in South India

Aim: To analyze central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial cell changes in young myopes.Methods: Study conducted for a period of 12 months in 168 myopic eyes with age less than 30 years.Ocular examination including visual acuity, anterior segment examination, axial length and refraction was done.Corneal endothelial cells and central corneal thickness were assessed with specular microscope and axial length measured with A scan ultrasonography.Results: Out of 168 eyes 125 had myopia less than 6 dioptre (D) sphere and 43 had myopia more than 6 D sphere.There is significant increase in axial length and decrease in mean cell density and central corneal thickness (p 0.00) in high myopes while the changes in hexagonality (p 0.99) and co-efficient of variation (p 0.25) were insignificant.Conclusion: In high myopia as the eyeball elongates central corneal thickness and mean endothelial cell density decreased.These factors should be assessed before performing anterior segment surgeries.