Corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) changes are independent from central corneal thickness (CCT) in keratoconus patients, states a recent paper.

The cross-sectional controlled study, headed by Dr Ozgur Bulent Timucin, Van Training and Research Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Van, Turkey, prospectively assessed 65 keratoconus patients with no history of contact lens wear and 40 healthy control subjects. The Heidelberg Retinal Tomography Rostock Cornea Module (HRT3/RCM) was used to evaluate all eyes. The main outcome was the comparison of the average ECD from both groups.

The results revealed that 19 eyes had mild keratoconus, 21 had moderate keratoconus and 25 had severe keratoconus. The mean ECD was 2731.6 ± 303.2 cells/mm2 and 2664.9 ± 319.5 cells/mm2 in keratoconus patients and control subjects, respectively.

There were no differences betweens densities and no significant correlations between ECD and CCT or steepest keratometric. There were no changes in ECD in keratoconic patients without a history of contact lens use when compared to the healthy subjects.

Journal of the British Contact Lens Association