In vivo quantification of corneal endothelium function

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Quantifying corneal endothelial function is crucial for managing endothelial disorders.
• Current methods may lack precision in assessing functional status.
• Need for a reliable in vivo test to monitor corneal health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate an in vivo corneal stress test for assessing endothelial function.
• To determine the clinical usefulness of the Percentage Recovery Per Hour (PRPH) metric.
• To compare endothelial function in normal, pseudophakic corneal edema, and Fuchs' dystrophy patients.

Main Methods:

• An in vivo corneal stress test measuring Percentage Recovery Per Hour (PRPH) was employed.
• The study included 15 eyes each of normal controls, pseudophakic corneal edema, and Fuchs' dystrophy.
• Corneal deswelling response was evaluated to assess endothelial function.

Main Results:

• PRPH was significantly lower in pseudophakic corneal edema compared to normal corneas (p < 0.01).
• The test demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity (93.3%) at a PRPH cut-off of 47.5% for pseudophakic corneal edema.
• Corneal thickness >0.55 mm correlated with PRPH below the cut-off in 100% of eyes.

Conclusions:

• The in vivo corneal stress test reliably quantifies corneal endothelial function.
• The PRPH metric effectively identifies and monitors low endothelial function.
• This test aids in optimizing monitoring and intervention strategies for corneal endothelial disorders.