超声乳化白内障吸除术对老年患者角膜内皮细胞的影响

目的研究老年性白内障患者进行超声乳化白内障吸除术时、术前后角膜内皮细胞的变化。方法对60岁以上老年性白内障患者610例分别于超声乳化白内障吸除术前及术后进行照相并分析其形态及量化指标。结果与术前相比，术后角膜内皮细胞在密度、形态上均有改变、变异增大。结论老年患者角膜内皮对超声乳化白内障吸除术产生的损伤敏感，术前应将角膜内皮细胞镜作为常规检查，术中应防止对角膜内皮细胞的损伤。     

白内障超声乳化吸除术对不同年龄段患者角膜内皮影响的临床研究

目的通过超声乳化白内障吸除术对不同年龄段老年患者角膜内皮的影响的观察,探讨年龄和角膜内皮功能的相关性。方法不同年龄段的年龄相关性白内障患者(排除眼部其他疾患和糖尿病全身病)78例(83眼),分为66岁以下、66-73岁、74-84岁、85岁以上四个年龄组,给予超声乳化白内障吸除手术治疗,以非接触眼科专用角膜内皮镜,测量手术前后角膜内皮细胞的数量,对手术前后角膜内皮的减少数值进行统计分析。结果同组术前、术后角膜内皮细胞减少有统计学意义(P<0.01),各组间因手术影响的减少值之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论高龄老年患者角膜内皮对手术损伤的敏感性高,术前应对角膜内皮细胞的功能评估应结合年龄段重新评估。     

超声乳化术对抗青光眼术后白内障五方位角膜内皮的影响

目的:评价超声乳化术对抗青光眼术后五方位角膜内皮的影响。方法:试验组:选取小梁切除术后需行超声乳化白内障手术的白内障患者30例32眼,对照组:随机选取单纯老年性白内障患者36例40眼,由同一熟练眼科医师行白内障超声乳化术。用非接触式角膜内皮显微镜对患者分别于术前及术后7d;1,3,6mo拍摄中央、鼻侧、颞侧、上方及下方共五方位角膜内皮细胞图像,并对图像自动分析。结果:在白内障手术中试验组五方位角膜内皮细胞均比对照组易受到损伤(P<0.01)。结论:抗青光眼术后白内障患者角膜内皮细胞对超声乳化白内障吸除术产生的损伤更加敏感,所以术前评估、手术操作及术后处理很重要。     

超声乳化白内障手术对年龄相关性白内障患者角膜内皮细胞的影响

目的:探讨年龄相关性白内障患者超声乳化白内障吸除术后角膜内皮细胞的变化及角膜内皮形态结构的变化。方法:选择在我院行超声乳化白内障吸除折叠人工晶状体植入术的年龄相关性白内障患者79例91眼,按晶状体核密度分为两组,其中Ⅲ级以下核(包括Ⅲ级核)43眼,Ⅲ级以上核48眼。在术前及术后3d时,应用非接触式角膜内皮显微镜观察其中央角膜的内皮细胞密度(CD值)及角膜内皮形态结构的变化。结果:CD值较术前均有不同程度的下降,Ⅲ级核以下(包括III级核)CD值下降6%,Ⅲ级核以上CD值下降13%。CD值随着晶状体核硬度上升,呈现下降趋势。术后细胞形态也发生改变,角膜内皮细胞变异系数(CV)值则增高,Ⅲ级核以下(包括Ⅲ级核)内皮细胞面积平均值及CV值变化均小于III级核以上。结论:老年患者角膜内皮对白内障超声乳化手术产生的损伤敏感,术前应将角膜内皮细胞镜作为常规检查,术中术者可根据患者核硬度随时调整能量和负压的参数组合,尽可能降低超声能量,缩短超声时间,最大限度地保护角膜内皮的正常功能,以提高手术成功率。     

白内障超声乳化吸除术后角膜内皮细胞变化的研究

目的:观察不同类型白内障患者超声乳化吸除术后角膜内皮细胞的变化。方法:随机选取我院老年性白内障、糖尿病性白内障及高度近视并发性白内障患者各30例30眼,均行白内障超声乳化吸除联合人工晶状体植入手术,于术前及术后1wk采用非接触型角膜内皮显微镜行角膜内皮细胞密度及六角形细胞比例检查。结果:三组术前角膜内皮细胞密度及六角形细胞比例比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。三组术后1wk角膜内皮细胞密度分别为2 496.86±298.96/mm2,2 379.51±375.13/mm2,2 425.38±312.68/mm2,六角形细胞比例分别为(46.20±12.03)%,(43.44±13.99)%,(44.35±8.13)%。三组术后1wk角膜内皮细胞密度及六角形细胞比例均较术前减少,其差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术后各组间比较,糖尿病性白内障组和高度近视并发性白内障组术后均较老年性白内障组术后降低,其中糖尿病性白内障组术后角膜内皮细胞密度和六角形细胞比例降低较明显,与老年性白内障组比较,其差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:糖尿病性白内障及高度近视并发性白内障患者角膜内皮对超声乳化手术的耐受性降低,对角膜内皮细胞应行准确术前评估及术中保护。     

白内障超声乳化术对糖尿病患者角膜内皮的影响

目的研究糖尿病患者角膜内皮细胞的形态学特点,以及超声乳化手术对其影响.方法将病例分为二组,一组为糖尿病伴白内障35例40眼,另一组为同期手术的普通老年性白内障40例50眼.所有病例均行超声乳化术,术前及术后3个月对术眼角膜内皮细胞进行形态学定量对比分析.结果糖尿病患者角膜内皮细胞密度、六角形细胞比例较正常组下降,平均细胞面积增加(P＜0.05);正常白内障组手术前、后大部分定量指标差异无显著性(P＞0.05),而糖尿病组手术前、后细胞密度减少,平均细胞面积增大,六角形细胞比例下降(P＜0.05).结论糖尿病对角膜内皮细胞的形态和泵功能有一定影响;糖尿病患者角膜内皮对超声乳化吸除术手术损伤较为敏感,术前应常规检查角膜内皮,术中尽量避免损伤角膜内皮细胞.     

超声乳化白内障吸除术后角膜内皮细胞损伤和修复的临床观察

目的探讨超声乳化白内障吸除术后角膜内皮细胞损伤和修复的特点。方法对104例（104只眼）老年性白内障患者行超声乳化白内障吸除术,分别于术前、术后1周及1、2、3、6个月进行角膜内皮细胞密度和形态的观察和分析。结果角膜内皮细胞术前与术后1周、1个月、2个月细胞密度明显降低,差异有显著性,细胞形态明显增大,差异有显著性,角膜内皮细胞术前与术后3、6个月对比细胞密度下降不明显,差异没有显著性。细胞形态改变不大,差异没有显著性。结论超声乳化白内障吸除术后角膜内皮细胞最严重的损伤发生于术后2个月,在3个月时细胞的修复基本完成,术后半年以后细胞和形态基本恢复至术前的水平。     

白内障超声乳化术前及术中参数对角膜内皮的影响

目的 评估白内障超声乳化手术的一些术前以及术中参数对术后角膜内皮损伤的影响.方法 83例患者(100只眼)行白内障超声乳化手术.术前、术中记录患者年龄、核硬度、前房深度(ACD)、眼轴长度、切口累计消散能量(CDE)、注吸时间以及液流量.术前以及术后2周测量患者中央角膜内皮细胞密度(CED)、细胞变异度(CV)、平均细胞面积(AVG)、六边形细胞比率.结果 术后2周,角膜内皮细胞平均丢失(377.14 ±283.00) /mm2,丢失率为(14.37±10.59)％,术前、术后内皮细胞密度差异有统计学意义(P ＜0.001).术后角膜内皮形态发生改变,六边形细胞比率减少,术前、术后患者的CV、AVG、六边形细胞比率差别有统计学意义(P ＜0.001).内皮细胞丢失量与核硬度、超声能量、前房深度、年龄有一定的相关性(分别为P ＜0.001,P=0.008,P=0.005,P=0.035),但与液流量、注吸时间、眼轴长度无相关(分别为P =0.420,P=0.607,P=0.823).结论 白内障超声乳化手术后内皮细胞损伤的因素是多方面的,例如:核硬度、超声能量、前房深度等.应该提高手术技巧以及手术设备减轻对角膜内皮的损伤.     

角膜内皮细胞形态异常白内障患者超声乳化吸除手术的临床观察

目的：观察角膜内皮形态异常白内障患者行白内障超声乳化吸除联合人工晶状体(IOL)植入术的安全性及手术效果。

方法：回顾性系列病例研究。对2018-01/2020-01在新疆医科大学第一附属医院确诊为年龄相关性白内障患者角膜内皮细胞密度(CD)>2 000cell/mm²,但形态异常的72例90眼作为病例组,以形态正常的120例158眼作为对照组,分别行白内障超声乳化吸除联合IOL植入术,检测术前、术后1wk,1、3mo时CD、细胞面积变异系数(CV)、角膜内皮六角形细胞百分比(HEX)、中央角膜厚度(CT)的变化,分析两组间的差异。

结果：两组患者CD、CV、HEX、CT术后1wk,1mo比较均有差异,而术后3mo两组间CD、HEX有差异,而CV、CT无差异。

结论：CD正常而形态异常的白内障患者行超声乳化吸除联合IOL植入术后角膜内皮损伤程度更重,术前应充分重视,术中同样需要保护角膜内皮,谨慎操作。     

糖尿病性白内障术后角膜内皮细胞的分析

目的:观察糖尿病性白内障患者行超声乳化术后不同时间中央区和手术切口区角膜内皮细胞形态学的变化,探索糖尿病患者白内障术后角膜内皮细胞的变化规律及影响因素。方法:随机选取28例32眼非胰岛素依赖型糖尿病合并老年性白内障患者(糖尿病组)和31例32眼老年性白内障患者(对照组),行白内障超声乳化吸除术联合折叠式人工晶状体植入术。术前、术后1wk;1,3mo分别观察角膜中央区和手术切口区内皮细胞密度、六角形细胞比例和变异系数。结果:术后角膜内皮细胞密度和六角形细胞比例均呈现逐渐下降趋势,变异系数渐增加。糖尿病组与对照组相比,术前内皮细胞密度无显著性差异,六角形细胞比例和变异系数有显著性差异(P<0.01);术后3mo时两组间3项指标均有显著性差异(P<0.01),其中各指标在术前与术后3mo时的增减值以糖尿病组为著。糖尿病组术后各时间段的切口区内皮细胞密度低于中央区,有显著性差异(术后1wk;1mo时P<0.05,3mo时P<0.01),六角形细胞比例低于中央区(术后1wk;1mo时P<0.01,3mo时P<0.05),变异系数高于中央区(术后各时间P<0.01)。结论:糖尿病患者对手术损伤的耐受性低,且创伤愈合的速率和效率两方面均差于正常人。在该手术中,其角膜内皮受到超声因素和机械因素的双重损伤。对于白内障患者合并糖尿病者,在超声损伤的基础上,应注意机械因素的作用;并且这种创伤对角膜内皮的影响可能更大。     

小梁切除术对角膜内皮细胞影响的研究

目的探讨小梁切除术对角膜内皮细胞的影响。方法对29例（37眼）青光眼行小梁切除术。分别于术前和术后3月内进行角膜内皮照相并分析其形态和定量指标。结果角膜内皮细胞密度、平均细胞面积、六角形细胞所占比例及变异系数4种指标术前术后差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。小梁切除术后正常前房和Ⅰ、Ⅱ度浅前房者，术前术后中央角膜内皮细胞密度差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。Ⅱ度浅前房中央内皮细胞丢失率为69．11％。结论正常过程小梁切除术对角膜内皮细胞影响不显著，小梁切除术后浅前房是角膜内皮细胞丢失的主要因素，尤其是Ⅲ度浅前房。     

Acute corneal endothelial changes after laser in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE: To report the acute effects of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on the corneal endothelium. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 10 consecutive patients (mean age, 38.1 +/- 10.84 years) underwent bilateral simultaneous LASIK for myopic astigmatism (spherical equivalent ranging from -1.75 to -7.13 diopters) without any complications. Each eye was evaluated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and noncontact specular microscopy preoperatively, within 15 minutes after LASIK and 1 day after surgery. Specular microscopy images were then analyzed to calculate endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV) of cell size, and percentage of hexagonal cells. RESULTS: All corneas demonstrated marked alterations in endothelial cell morphology by slit-lamp biomicroscopy within 15 minutes after surgery that resolved by the first postoperative day. Central corneal endothelial analysis by noncontact specular microscopy confirmed pleomorphism with definite loss of hexagonality. Mean ECD was calculated to be 2,816.3 +/- 286.02 cells/mm(2) preoperatively, 2,750.85 +/- 327.95 cells/mm(2) on day 0 (p = 0.395), and 2,810.55 +/- 218.48 cells/mm(2) on day 1 (p = 0.461). Mean CV was 32.65 +/- 7.29 preoperatively, 34.4 +/- 6.19 on day 0 (p = 0.412), and 30.9 +/- 5.54 on day 1 (p = 0.067). Mean percentage of hexagonal cells was 63.35 +/- 10.76 preoperatively, 47.55 +/- 9.69 on day 0 (p = 0.000009), and 60 +/- 9.3 on day 1 (p = 0.00003). CONCLUSION: Qualitative and quantitative changes in endothelial cell morphology (i.e., decreased endothelial cell hexagonality) demonstrate that LASIK does induce an acute effect on the corneal endothelium that may represent transient endothelial cell edema.     

Corneal endothelial cell change after phacoemulsification relative to the severity of diabetic retinopathy

PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in corneal endothelial cell morphology between diabetic patients who were divided by the degree of the severity of diabetic retinopathy and normal patients after phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea. METHODS: Before and 6 months after phacoemulsification, specular microscopy was used to evaluate the number and morphology of endothelial cells in patients with diabetic retinopathy. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group I (n=30 eyes), without diabetes; group II (n=30 eyes), diabetes with severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy; group III (n=30 eyes), diabetes with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). RESULTS: Postoperative corneal endothelial cell density and hexagonality were significantly decreased and the coefficient of variation in cell size increased in all groups, in contrast to the preoperative state (P<.05). During the postoperative 6 months, the percentage of hexagonal cells showed a tendency to decrease progressively, and this was a significant difference between the 3 groups (P<.05). However, the patterns of change in endothelial cell density and the coefficient of variation in cell size were not different between the groups (P>.05). At the postoperative 6 months, the corneal endothelial cell density and the coefficient of variation in cell size of high-risk PDR patients were statistically changed compared with normal persons (P<.05). However, the percentage of hexagonal cell was not significantly difference between diabetic retinopathy patients and normal patients (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal endothelial cell density significantly decreased and the coefficient of variation in cell size significantly increased for high-risk PDR patients undergoing phacoemulsification, in contrast to normal persons at the postoperative 6 months.     

玻璃体切割联合白内障手术对DR患者角膜内皮细胞的影响

目的:探讨玻璃体切割联合白内障超声乳化手术对糖尿病视网膜病变(diabetic retinopathy,DR)患者角膜内皮细胞的影响.方法:采用回顾性研究.选取2015-01/2017-02我院收治的DR患者160例160眼,根据有无合并白内障分为两组.单纯玻璃体切割组患者74例74眼,联合手术组患者86例86眼,行玻璃体切割联合白内障超声乳化人工晶状体植入术.采用非接触角膜内皮显微镜于术前1d和术后1mo时检查两组患者术眼中央角膜内皮细胞密度,并比较两组患者角膜内皮细胞的平均细胞面积、面积变异系数和六角形细胞比率.结果:单纯玻璃体切割组患者手术前后角膜内皮细胞密度、角膜内皮细胞的平均细胞面积和面积变异系数、六角形细胞比率的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);联合手术组手术后角膜内皮细胞密度和六角形细胞比率较手术前下降,细胞平均面积和变异系数高于术前,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).两组患者手术后角膜内皮细胞密度、角膜内皮细胞的平均细胞面积和面积变异系数、六角形细胞比率比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论:玻璃体切割联合白内障超声乳化人工晶状体植入治疗糖尿病视网膜病变合并白内障对角膜内皮细胞有一定影响,针对有适应证的患者,术中应注意保护角膜内皮细胞.     

糖尿病患者白内障超声乳化术后角膜内皮的变化

目的:应用共聚焦显微镜观察糖尿病患者行白内障超声乳化术前后角膜内皮的变化。方法:随机选取年龄相关性白内障合并糖尿病患者(糖尿病组)50例56眼和单纯年龄相关性白内障患者50例60眼(对照组),行白内障超声乳化摘除联合折叠式人工晶状体植入术。术前及术后1wk;1,3mo应用共聚焦显微镜分别对中央角膜厚度、内皮细胞密度、内皮细胞变异系数及六角形内皮细胞百分比进行观察,分析结果。结果:两组术前中央角膜厚度、内皮细胞密度、内皮细胞变异系数、六角形内皮细胞百分比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);跟术前相比,术后两组角膜厚度、内皮细胞变异系数均增加,内皮细胞密度、六角形细胞百分比均呈下降趋势;术后1wk;1,3mo糖尿病组中央角膜厚度均高于对照组(P<0.05),内皮细胞密度均低于对照组(P<0.05);术后1wk;1,3mo糖尿病组六角形内皮细胞百分比明显低于对照组(P<0.01),内皮细胞变异系数明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。结论:合并糖尿病的年龄相关性白内障患者超声乳化术后角膜内皮的损伤更严重,且创伤愈合的速率和效率均差于单纯相关性白内障患者。     

超声乳化治疗原发性闭角型青光眼对角膜内皮影响的临床观察

目的:探讨角膜内皮细胞密度在超声乳化白内障吸除术以及小梁切除术治疗原发性闭角型青光眼前后的变化。方法:原发性闭角型青光眼合并有白内障的患者133例随机分为两组,分别行超声乳化白内障吸除术和小梁切除术,应用美国Bio-optics LSM 22000接触型角膜内皮显微镜对两组患者术前及术后3mo角膜内皮细胞密度和面积等进行观察,结果进行统计学分析。结果:两组手术前后眼压均明显下降,比较有显著性差异(P<0.01)。超声乳化组手术前后角膜内皮细胞密度分别为2483±486个/mm2和2336±305个/mm2,小梁切除术组手术前后为2438±375个/mm2和2326±216个/mm2,两组手术前后比较无显著性差异。细胞周长、平均细胞面积、细胞多形性变异率联组比较无显著性差异,六角形细胞的百分数在浅前房的患者下降(P<0.05)。结论:超声乳化白内障吸除术治疗原发性闭角型青光眼是一种安全有效的手术方法。术前角膜内皮细胞密度的检查是很重要的。     

Long-term endothelial changes in phakic eyes after Artisan intraocular lens implantation to correct myopia: five-year study

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term endothelial cell changes in eyes that had implantation of an iris-fixated phakic Artisan intraocular lens (IOL) for moderate to high myopia. SETTING: Casa di Cura Villa Igea, Ancona, Italy. METHODS: Forty-nine eyes of 30 patients having implantation of Artisan IOL for moderate to high myopia were prospectively examined. Preoperative specular microscopy and serial postoperative specular microscopy (Noncon Robo SP 8000, Konan Medical) were performed to evaluate endothelial cell changes over 5 years. Endothelial cell images were collected in the central region of the cornea before surgery and 4, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after surgery. The endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation, and percentage of hexagonal cells were determined. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the mean ECD was 2616 cells/mm(2) +/- 347 (SD), the mean coefficient of variation was 39.6% +/- 4.7%, and the mean percentage of hexagonal cells was 49.2% +/- 6.7%. The mean endothelial cell loss from preoperatively was 2.3% at 4 months, 3.5% at 12 months, 4.7% at 24 months, 6.7% at 3 years, 8.3% at 4 years, and 9.0% at 5 years. Five years after surgery, the mean coefficient of variation was 35.9% +/- 6.9% (P = .1946) and the percentage of hexagonal cells was significantly higher (mean 54.7% +/- 10.3%) (P = .087). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous endothelial cell loss was observed after surgery during a 5-year follow-up, especially during the first 2 years. A decrease in the coefficient of variation and an increase in the percentage of hexagonal cells were observed over time, reflecting the increasing stability and remodeling of the corneal endothelial cells 5 years postoperatively.     

Characteristics of the corneal endothelium and pseudoexfoliation syndrome in patients with senile cataract

Background: The characteristics of the corneal endothelium in patients with/without pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) with senile cataract in Paraguay are unknown. Methods: Endothelial density, mean coefficient of variation (%) in cell size and mean cell hexagonality (%) were measured using automated specular microscopy. Multivariate general linear model analysis was used to determine the effect of age, gender and PEX on endothelial characteristics. Analysis of variance tests analysed the effect of age on endothelial variables without regard to PEX status. Categories of <2000 and ≥2000 cells/mm² were compared in the presence/absence of PEX using age as covariate to calculate odds ratios for corneal decompensation. Results: Out of 468 eligible patients, 51 were excluded. Sixty‐one patients had PEX. Unadjusted mean endothelial cell density was 2451 cells/mm²; cell size coefficient of variation was 34.3; and the mean percentage of hexagonal cells was 57.7. Adjusting for age, only the mean difference between the groups with and without PEX for endothelial cell density was significant (PEX = 2315, no PEX = 2482, P = 0.002). Of the total study population, at‐risk endothelial cell densities were found in 46 eyes (11%); and 13 (28%) of those were found to have PEX. When PEX was present, the calculated odds ratio for corneal decompensation following surgery was 1.90 after adjustment for age. Conclusions: Endothelial cell density data were consistent with published literature. Because Paraguay has a high prevalent of PEX, it is suggested that specular microscopy screening be carried out for all patients scheduled for intraocular surgery where feasible.     

Effect of torsional mode phacoemulsification on cornea in eyes with/without pseudoexfoliation

AIM: To evaluate the effect of torsional mode phacoemulsification on central corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell density, and morphology in eyes with/without pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome. METHODS: Fourty-two consecutive patients with and 42 patients without PEX as a control group scheduled for cataract surgery was studied. Phacoemulsification, using OZiL IP system, was performed with quick chop technique. Using noncontact specular microscopy, the central endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation, percentage of hexagonal cells, and the central corneal thickness (CCT) were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 7 and 30d. RESULTS: The ECD in PEX syndrome was statistically significantly lower than that in the control group preoperatively and postoperatively (P≤0.001). Percentage change in ECD was statistically significantly higher in PEX than that in control group after surgery follow up (P≤0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between both groups comparing percentage of hexagonal cells and coefficient of variation in the cell size before and after the surgery. At 1 and 7d after surgery, percentage change in CCT was statistically significantly higher in PEX group than that in the control group (P≤0.041). CONCLUSION: Although torsional mode phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation provided a safe and favorable surgical outcome in patients with/without PEX, torsional phacoemulsification led to significantly higher ECD loss in the PEX group than that in the control group during the whole follow up period. In addition, more corneal swelling in the PEX group than that in the control group during the early postoperative period has indicated that the corneal endothelium, in presence of PEX endotheliopathy, seems to be more susceptible to the effects of phacoemulsification surgery in eyes with PEX. The increased risk of anterior chamber manipulations in patients with PEX should be taken into account for an increased risk of bullous keratopathy.     

The effect of radial keratotomy on the corneal endothelium

Morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelium was performed on 11 eyes of patients who underwent anterior radial keratotomy with the contralateral eye serving as the controls. We analyzed cell density, variation in cell size (polymegethism), and cell shape (pleomorphism) by computer analysis of central and midperipheral specular micrograms one year after surgery. The central endothelial density decreased from 2,503 to 2,419 cells/mm2 (3.3% decrease). The coefficient of variation in cell size (polymegethism) was 0.290 preoperatively and 0.309 postoperatively centrally. Central hexagonality was reduced centrally from 61.4% preoperatively to 56.8% in the operated on eye. These differences were not statistically significant (P greater than .05). In a separate subgroup of six patients, midperipheral specular microscopy under and between incisions disclosed a similar pattern of mild cell density decrease and morphometric remodeling one year after surgery. No morphometric characteristic was significantly different from the central control values (P greater than .05), suggesting that the corneal endothelial monolayer had stabilized one year after radial keratotomy.