Abstract
Objective: To investigate changes in corneal endothelial cell density, corneal morphology and central corneal thickness in patients with ocular rosacea.
Method: 60 eyes of 30 ocular rosacea patients and 60 eyes of 30 control group with similar demographic characteristics were included in the study. Detailed ophthalmological examination was performed in all individuals participating in the study. The eyes of all participants were evaluated by specular microscopy, schirmer 1 test, tear break-up time test (TBUT). Additionally, via specular microscopy the following parameters were assessed: endothelial cell density (ECD), mean cell area (ACA), minimum cell area (CAmin), maximum cell area (CA max), cell area standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation in the cell area (CV), hexogonal cell ratio (HEX), central corneal thickness (CCT) numerical (NUM).
Results: Although none of the differences are statistically significant, patients with ocular rosacea have lower ACA, CA min, CA max, HEX, CCT and NUM values (p = 0,169, p = 0,897, p = 0,694, p = 0,649, p = 0,164 and p = 0,070, respectively), and higher CD, SD and CV values (p = 0.509, p = 0.437, p = 0.165, respectively). In ocular rosacea patients, there was no significant correlation was found the values of mean Schirmer test between CV, HEX, ECD, CT (p = 0.394, p = 0.906, p = 0.222, p = 0.208, respectively). Additionally, no significant correlation was found between tear break-up time and CV, HEX, ECD, CCT (p = 0.079, p = 0.227, p = 0.621, p = 0.712, respectively).
Conclusions: Our finding show that, despite the presence of some observable differences, corneal endothelial functions are similar to control group in patients with ocular rosacea.
Supporting Institution
Adıyaman University Faculty of Medicine