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Corneal endothelial changes associated with herpetic stromal keratitis
N Hirose1, Y Shimomura, M Matsuda
1Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Herpetic stromal keratitis affects corneal endothelium cell shape and size, with keratouveitis also reducing cell density. Disciform keratitis shows changes in cell variation but not density.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Diseases
- Microscopy
Background:
- Herpetic stromal keratitis is a common cause of corneal inflammation.
- Endothelial dysfunction can lead to vision loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate corneal endothelial cell changes in patients with unilateral herpetic stromal keratitis.
- To compare endothelial cell morphology and density between affected and unaffected eyes.
Main Methods:
- Wide-field specular microscopy was used to examine the corneal endothelium in both eyes of 33 patients.
- Computerized morphometric analysis quantified endothelial cell density, size variation (polymegathism), and shape variation (pleomorphism).
Main Results:
- In disciform keratitis (16 patients), affected eyes showed increased polymegathism and pleomorphism but no change in cell density compared to fellow eyes.
- In keratouveitis (17 patients), affected eyes exhibited marked polymegathism, pleomorphism, and a significant reduction (19%) in endothelial cell density compared to fellow eyes.
Conclusions:
- Herpetic stromal keratitis, particularly keratouveitis, significantly alters corneal endothelial cell morphology and density.
- Specular microscopy and morphometric analysis are valuable tools for assessing endothelial damage in herpetic keratitis.