Correlation between biomechanical and endothelial corneal properties in myopic children

Abstract

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the endothelial layer and biomechanical properties of the cornea, in a group of low‐moderate myopic children.Methods: This prospective study included only the right eye from myopic patients younger than 18. We performed a complete ophthalmologic examination, including autorefractometry under cycloplegia (to determine the spherical equivalent ‐ SE), slit lamp and fundus examination, visual acuity and ocular tonometry. Furthermore, the patients were examined with the Aladdin biometer (Topcon, Tokyo, Japan) to determine central corneal thickness (CCT) and axial length (AL), with the Specular Microscope (Nidek, Gamagori, Japan) to determine number (Num) and density (CD) of endothelial cells, and with the Ocular Response Analyser (Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments Inc., Depew, NY) to determine corneal hysteresis (CH) and resistance factor (CRF). IBM SPSS Statistics 26 was used for statistical analysis.Results: Our study included 64 right eyes from 64 patients (51.56% male, 48.44% female). The average age was 14.27 years (standard deviation 2.71). The average SE is −2.57 (SD 1.62), AL 24.69 (SD 1.15), CCT 0.565 (SD 0.036), CH 12.32 (SD 1.88), CRF 12.64 (SD 2.24), Num cell 175.17 (SD 38.55), CD 3126.86 (SD 192.74). There are significant correlations between the biomechanical properties of the cornea and the characteristics of the endothelial layer. We found a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between CH and CD in this paediatric myopic population (Pearson's r of 0.353, p 0.004), and also between CRF and CD (Pearson's r of 0.2557, p 0.041). Between AL and the number of cells, there is a significant negative correlation (Pearson's r of −0.287, p 0.025). There are no significant correlations between the number of endothelial cells and CH, CRF, SE or CCT, or between CD and AL, CCT, SE.Conclusions: Our study reveals that in children with myopia, the endothelial cell count is higher in corneas with a higher hysteresis and resistance factor. Moreover, the relationship between the axial length and the number of endothelial cells suggests an impact of myopia on the endothelial layer and warrants further studies, including a larger number of patients and more corneal properties, such as corneal diameter and curvature.