Abstract
Purpose :
The endothelial cell density (ECD) is known to be reduced with ageing; however, the ECD varies among individuals. This study aims to determine if there is an association between endothelial cell density and several systemic and ocular factors in an adult population scheduled for cataract surgery.
Methods :
This was a retrospective, consecutive, and descriptive clinical study on adults scheduled for cataract surgery from May 2018 to December 2019. Participants underwent ocular biometry (IOL Master 700, Carl Zeiss, Germany) and ECD measurement with specular microscopy (CellChek XL, Konan, Japan). Systemic variables were age, sex, weight, height and BMI, diabetes, years with diabetes, systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), rheumatic diseases, hypothyroidism, and smoking. Ocular biometric variables were axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), keratometry, and lens thickness (LT). Ocular variables were eye, BCVA (LogMAR), IOP, endothelial cell density, Fuchs dystrophy, guttata, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, history of uveitis, dry eye, pterygium, anterior and posterior synechia, pterygium surgery or LASIK surgery. Statistic was performed with univariable linear regression, and then all the significative variables were further analyzed with multivariable linear regression. All variables were adjusted for the age of the participants.
Results :
A total of 1571 patients were identified, 169 were excluded due to lack of specular microscopy, and 12 because they were under 30 years of age. 1390 patients were included for analysis, 840 females, Mean (min-max) age was 67.06 (30-95) years. For the analysis of eye biometrics, we excluded 317 patients because lack of IOL Master study. ECD was Mean±Sd (median) 2404.5±421.3 (2439). Univariate analysis without age adjustment was statistically significant for: age, ACD, AL, LT, BCVA, SAH, and weight. After adjusting to age, the only significant variable was BCVA, greater LogMAR (worse vision) showed less ECD. In the multivariable analysis, the significant variables were age, BCVA, AL, and ACD; less ECD was observed with increased age, less visual acuity, larger AL and shorter ACD.
Conclusions :
This study confirms that age is the principal factor related to the loss of ECD. Patients with greater age, worse vision, greater AL, and smaller ACD could have less ECD. The other studied variables did not show a significant association with ECD loss.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.