Purpose: To study the changes in corneal endothelial cell density in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma compared with those in controls.
Methods: A total of 227 subjects in three groups, one each of normal-tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma patients and one of normal controls, were studied from January 2008 to July 2008 in the Ophthalmology Department of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. The glaucoma (normal-tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma) patients included monocular and binocular glaucoma patients. Corneal endothelial cells were examined using a noncontact specular microscope.
Results: The mean endothelial cell densities in the three groups were as follows: normal-tension glaucoma group, 2696.7+/-303.9 cell/mm2; primary open-angle glaucoma group, 2370.5+/-392.3 cell/mm2; and normal group, 2723.6+/-300.6 cell/mm2. The endothelial cell count was not significantly different between normal-tension glaucoma and normal groups (P=1.000). Primary open-angle glaucoma patients had significantly lower endothelial cell counts (P<0.001) than the normal group. The endothelial cell count was also significantly lower in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma than in normal-tension glaucoma eyes (P<0.001).
Conclusions: There was a significant decrease in corneal endothelial cell density in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma, but not in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma. Elevated intraocular pressure likely affected the decrease of corneal endothelial cell density in eyes with glaucoma.