Abstract

Study design- Cross Sectional
Purpose- To assess corneal endothelium in patients with and without dry eye disease (DED)
Methods- Participants were grouped into DED group and normal on the basis of scores obtained from the Ocular surface disease index questionnaire and tear film tests. Non-contact specular microscopy was performed for assessing endothelial parameters.
Results- Out of 114 eyes of 60 subjects (30 in each group), 55 eyes were normal & 59 had DED, with the mean age being 52.90 and 53.20 years respectively (p=0.95). The endothelial cell density (ECD), hexagonality (6A), average cell area and coefficient of variance (CV) for the normal group was 2681±137, 50%, 377±23, 36±4 respectively. In the DED group, ECD & 6A were significantly reduced to 2431±155 (p=0.00) & 44 %( p=0.00) with the average cell area and CV significantly greater at 410±27 (p=0.00) & 38±4 (p=0.01).
Conclusion- Patients with DED had poor endothelial parameters when compared to age matched normals.