Corneal endothelial damage in congenital and juvenile glaucoma

Abstract

Corneal changes are typical for infantile glaucoma. In newborns, Descemet's membrane and the stroma are still soft, and distend when intraocular pressure rises. Cell counts were performed under the reflecting microscope to determine whether the endothelium is affected when corneal diameter increases and changes occur in Descemet's membrane. The mean endothelial cell density of 20 patients with congenital or secondary juvenile glaucoma, aged between 4 and 29 years, was found to be 2780/mm2. Even though increased corneal diameter was the most common primary symptom of buphthalmos, there were no relationships between corneal diameter on the one hand and postoperative endothelial cell density, visual outcome, or postoperative pressure on the other. In children who had had corneal edema followed by ruptures of Descemet's membrane the number of endothelial cells was significantly reduced, visual outcome was worse, and there were more problems with regulation of intraocular pressure. Lower-than-average endothelial cell densities were also found in some patients with secondary glaucoma.