[Cytology of the corneal endothelium in endothelial dystrophy]

The corneal endothelium of 17 corneal buttons with endothelial dystrophy was investigated by means of vital staining and light microscopy. Each type of dystrophy was characterized by typical morphological changes in the endothelium: in Fuch's endothelial dystrophy (n = 13), subendothelial guttata formation is characteristic; in congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (n = 2), a high amount of multinucleated endothelial cells was found; in posterior polymorphous dystrophy (n = 2), a multilayered endothelium was the striking feature. There is a coherent endothelial cell layer in endothelial dystrophy that may indicate a disturbance in the endothelial pump function rather than a barrier defect caused by gaps between the endothelial cells.