Corneal Endothelial Cell Density in Ametropic Children and Adolescents

Program Number: 991 Poster Board Number: A0380 Presentation Time: 3:15 PM–5:00 PM Corneal Endothelial Cell Density in Ametropic Children and Adolescents Nicholas Faron1, James Hoekel1, Lawrence Tychsen1, 2. 1Ophthalmology, Washington Univ Sch of Med, St Louis, MO; 2Pediatrics, Washington Univ Sch of Med, St. Louis, MO. Purpose: Endothelial cell density (ECD) is known to decrease with age in adulthood. Less is known about ECD in childhood, particularly in children with substantial ametropia and amblyopia. Methods: ECD was measured (n = 244 eyes) by automated and manual counting methods from noncontact scans obtained using a Nidek CS4 Confocal Microscope. Children and adolescents age 4-20 years (mean 10.2 years) were imaged before pediatric refractive excimer laser or phakic IOL surgery performed for ametropic amblyopia. Results: Refractive error of myopes was an average -8.04 D (range -1 to -22.5) and of hyperopes +3.97 D (range +1.25 to 6.75) with mean cylinder 1.57 D. ECD was 3495 ± 244 cells/mm2 in 4yo’s and 3020 ± 220 in 20yo’s. ECD decreased an average 28 cells/mm2 per year of age (r2 = 0.76; p < .01). Substantial differences were not found in ECD between hyperopic and myopic children (p = .24). ECD was ~ 6% greater than that reported in normal children age 5-14 years using 1990 era technology. Conclusions: Highly ametropic and amblyopic children have ECD comparable to that reported previously in a population of normal children. ECD decreases in quasi-linear fashion throughout the first two decades of life. Commercial Relationships: Nicholas Faron, None; James Hoekel, None; Lawrence Tychsen, None