Endothelial morphology in long-term keratoconus corneal transplants

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Research
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Keratoconus grafts require long-term monitoring for endothelial health.
• Endothelial cell morphology is crucial for graft survival and visual function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term endothelial cell morphology in keratoconus grafts.
• To correlate endothelial cell count and morphology with donor age, recipient age, and graft age.

Main Methods:

• Studied 55 long-term keratoconus grafts using non-contact endothelial lens photography.
• Analyzed cell counts and cell form (coefficient of variation) with a digital analyzer.
• Performed statistical analysis correlating cell parameters with donor and recipient age.

Main Results:

• Endothelial cell counts ranged from 502 to 1708 cells/mm2.
• No significant correlation found between cell count and donor age.
• Recipient age was a significant predictor of decreased cell count, and graft aging correlated with increased cell pleomorphism.

Conclusions:

• Recipient age, not donor age, is a key factor in long-term endothelial cell survival post-keratoconus grafting.
• Graft aging leads to changes in endothelial cell shape, potentially impacting graft function.