Measurement of Corneal Endothelial Surface Area Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography in Normal Subjects.

Purpose: To calculate the number of corneal endothelial cells (CEC) on the posterior surface of the normal human cornea by measuring specific surface areas through anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The effects of age, sex, and variations between the right and left eyes were also investigated.

Methods: This study involved 60 eyes of 30 normal subjects with no history of corneal disease. Subjects were divided into the following groups according to age: group A (20-39 years old), group B (40-59 years old), and group C (60-79 years old). Set areas of the corneal posterior surface were imaged and analyzed using anterior segment optical coherence tomography, and the number of CECs was calculated based on the area measured and a CEC density.

Results: The posterior corneal surface area measured within the central circular diameters of 10.2, 8.5, and 7.5 mm was 86.8, 63.8, and 48.4 mm in group A, 86.0, 63.8, and 48.4 mm in group B, and 87.0, 64.2, and 48.6 mm in group C, respectively. The total number of CECs on the posterior surface in the diameters of 10.2, 8.5, and 7.5 mm was 2.3 × 10, 1.7 × 10, and 1.3 × 10, respectively. No clinically relevant differences in the posterior surface were found in relation to age, sex, or variation between right and left eyes.

Conclusions: Calculation of the CEC number on the corneal posterior surface is essential for determining the number of cells applied during penetrating keratoplasty, endothelial keratoplasty, or cultivated CEC injection therapy when available.