The study of the relationship between the central cornea with the manifest spherical equivalent(MSE)in adults by in vivo confocal microscopy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the influence of age on central corneal tissues and to characterize more precisely the anatomy of the cornea by in vivo confocal microscopy.Methods One hundred and eight-four eyes of 184 normal subjects ranging between 18 and 80 years old who diagnosed emmetropia in Eye center of Tianjin Medical University from 2003.8～2007.12 and all eyes were examined in vivo by confocal microscopy,the images were recorded,cell morphology,densities and thickness were measured for study and analysis.Results We found the densities of superficial basement epithelial cells has a significant negative correlation with the manifest spherical equivalent(Spearman rank correlation,r =-0.355 P=0.017)and the keratocyte density of the anterior stroma has a significant positive correlation with the manifest spherical equivalent(Spearman rank correlation,r 1=0.0284 P=0.018 0.05).The mean of the total corneal thickness and stroma thickness has a significant negative correlation with the manifest spherical equivalent(Spearman rank correlation,r 1=-0.4497 P=0.000,r 2=-0.453 P=0.000<0.05).We found the endothelium density has a significant negative correlation with the manifest spherical equivalent(Spearman rank correlation,r =-0.407 P=0.000<0.05)and the percentage of polymorphology of endothelium has a significant positive correlation with the manifest spherical equivalent(Spearman rank correlation,r =0.295 P=0.007)and the percentage of pleomorphism of endothelium has no correlation with the manifest spherical equivalent(Spearman rank correlation,r =0.003 P=0.0.977).Conclusions The changes of the myopic involved in the cornea.Those changes of the eyes included the thinner or thickness of epithelium,thinner thickness of cornea,decreased density of keratocyte and endothelial cells and increased the average size of endothelial cells.Corneal thickness is asymmetric and seems to undergo the manifest spherical equivalent related anatomic changes.This information should be considered when planning penetrating keratoplasty and refractive surgery. Key words: In vivo confocal microscopy ; Central Cornea ; The manifest spherical equivalent ; Relationship ;