Is There a Relationship between Statin Use and Corneal Specular Microscopy and Topography Findings?

Information about the possible effect of statins on the human corneal endothelium is still not clear. This study was the first known investigation of the influence of statins on corneal specular microscopy (SM) and topography parameters.

Thirty-four patients using a statin (atorvastatin) as hyperlipidemia treatment (Group 1) and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (Group 2) were prospectively included in the study. Demographic data and ophthalmic findings of participants were reported and analyzed. Cellular morphology was evaluated using the noncontact SM and corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) (cells/mm²), polymegathism (coefficient of variation in cell size [CV], %), and pleomorphism (% hexagonal cells [Hex]) data. Anterior chamber depth and volume, iridocorneal angle degree, average keratometry diopters were also measured with corneal topography.

The mean age was 53.03±7.23 years (range: 38-73 years) for Group 1 and 53.15±10.7 years (range: 34-80 years) for Group 2 (p=0.958). Group 1 consisted of 11 female and 23 male patients and Group 2 included 13 female and 21 male participants (p=0.798). The mean CECD density was significantly higher in Group 1 when compared with that of Group 2 (2544.34±244.76 cells/mm² [range: 2126.60-3107.00 cells/mm²] vs 2404.53±285.46 cells/mm² [range: 1839.80-2892.30 cells/mm²], p=0.034). There were no significant statistical differences in the CV and Hex values between the groups (p=0.450 and p=0.717, respectively). The corneal topographic measurements were also not significantly different.

The findings of this study revealed higher CECD values in statin users. Statins may have beneficial effects on cornea morphology.