Corneal Densitometry Assessed With Scheimpflug Camera in Healthy Corneas and Correlation With Specular Microscopy Values and Age

Abstract

Purpose: 

To investigate correlations between specular microscopy endothelial parameters and age with corneal densitometry values, as they are presented from a Scheimpflug device, in different levels of the cornea.

Methods: 

Two hundred eighty-four eyes of 142 healthy subjects were included in this observational, prospective study. Corneal densitometry was evaluated with Scheimpflug imaging system in the central 0- to 2-mm annular zone of the cornea, whereas the endothelial cell properties were assessed with the use of a noncontact specular microscope.

Results: 

Corneal densitometry values of all corneal layers were statistically significant and positively correlated with age. In univariate linear regression analysis among corneal densitometry values and the endothelial parameters, only endothelial cell density (CD) was statistically significant and inversely correlated with densitometry values in all corneal layers. In stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis, after adjustment for age, hexagonality was statistically significant and inversely correlated with posterior densitometry values, whereas coefficient of variation was positively and significantly correlated with the anterior densitometry values. When repeating stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis without adjusting for age, CD was negatively and significantly correlated with corneal densitometry values of all layers, whereas coefficient of variation was positively and significantly correlated with anterior and total corneal densitometry values.

Conclusions: 

Corneal densitometry increases with age. It is also inversely correlated with CD, and this might be used as an indirect way to assess the status of the corneal endothelium.