Endothelial cell density in donor corneas

In 68 pairs of donor corneas the endothelial cells were visualized by provoked swelling of the cell borders in isotonic saline. In cornea from donors below 50 years of age numerical cell density was correlated to age. This was not the case in corneas from older donors. The cell densities in paired corneas were correlated. The cell density in the second cornea of a pair was found to be within x +/- 10.97% (+/-1.98SD) of the first cornea. The precision of this estimate could only be improved insignificantly by correction for age, sex, mean cell density or variation of the mean.