Age-related modifications of the corneal endothelium in adults

Purpose: To obtain the topographical distribution of the corneal endothelial cell density, in different age ranges. Methods: Three hundred eyes of 204 healthy subjects (110 males (M) and 94 females (F)) aged from 20 to 83 years were evaluated. Participants were divided into three groups according to age. First group (120 eyes) comprised patients aged from 20 to 44 years (mean 32.27 ± 7.5), the second group (110 eyes) comprised patients aged from 45 to 70 years (mean 54.13 ± 7.1) and the third group (70 eyes), comprised participants older than 70 years (mean 79.28 ± 5.9). Specular microscopy was performed in the central zone and in four peripheral points. Results: Central and peripheral cell densities decrease with age (p < 0.05). In young adults the endothelial cell density did not show any significant variation in the central area with respect to the periphery (p > 0.05). In older adults the difference between central and peripheral endothelial cell densities showed the significance level of p=0.05. Conclusions: Topographical distribution of the corneal endotheliul cell density is maintained lifelong. Age-related changes involve both center and periphery. The higher peripheral decrement observed in the ancient subjects could be considered as a major finding and in elderly a topographical disparity might occur. © 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.