Abstract
Purpose :
Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor ripasudil (Rip) eye-drop instillation reportedly temporally changes the morphology of corneal endothelial cells (CEC) in normal subjects. However, there are no previous reports regarding Rip-related morphological change of CECs in glaucoma patients. In this study, we investigate the time-dependent change of CEC density (CECD) in glaucoma patients post Rip eye-drop instillation.
Methods :
This retrospective cross-sectional study involved 163 eyes of 163 glaucoma patients (75 males and 88 females; mean age: 67.2±13.1 years) with a CECD >1000 cells/mm2 and no history of laser or eye surgery within 1-year pre initiation of Rip eye-drop treatment at Oike-Ikeda Eye Clinic, Kyoto, Japan from June 2016 to February 2017. CECD was calculated by use of a noncontact specular microscope with automated calculation software (EM-3000; Tomey Corporation, Nagoya, Japan) at pre and 1- or 3-months post Rip instillation. The change of CECD, i.e., the calculated rate of CECD change [(post-pre)/pre x 100], was calculated and plotted along with elapsed time from last instillation of Rip. The patients were divided into the following 3 groups based on elapsed time post Rip instillation: Group A [<2 hours, n=41], Group B [≥2 hours, yet <6 hours, n=92], and Group C [≥6 hours, n=30]. The rate of CECD change was then analyzed and compared between Groups A, B, and C using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Bonferroni’s correction (a P-value of <0.002 considered statistically significant) and the Steel-Dwass’ test (a P-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant) were performed.
Results :
Pseudo-decrease of CECD was significant in Group A (mean rate of CECD change: -5.68%) and Group B (mean rate of CECD change: -4.95%) compared with Group C (mean rate of CECD change: +0.51%) (P<0.05). Transient morphological changes in corneal endothelium induced by Rip instillation, and recovery to normal morphology within 6-hours post instillation were observed.
Conclusions :
Within 6-hours post Rip instillation, CECD calculated by the noncontact specular microscope’s automated software possibly included artifacts and failed to show the true CECD number.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.