Density of corneal endothelial cells and corneal thickness in eyes of euthanatized horses

Objective-To determine density of corneal endothelial cells and corneal thi ckness in eyes of euthanatized horses. Sample Population-52 normal eyes from 26 horses. Procedure-Eyes were enucleated after horses were euthanatized. Eyes were ex amined to determine that they did not have visible ocular defects. Nonconta ct specular microscopy was used to determine density of corneal endothelial cells. Corneal thickness was measured, using ultrasonic pachymetry or spec ular microscopy. Results-Mean density of corneal endothelial cells was 3,155 cells/mm(2). Ce ll density decreased with age, but sex did not affect cell density. Values did not differ significantly between right and left eyes from the same hors e. Cell density of the ventral quadrant was significantly less than cell de nsity of the medial and temporal quadrants. Mean corneal thickness was 893 mum Sex or age did not affect corneal thickness. Dorsal and ventral quadran ts were significantly thicker than the medial and temporal quadrants and ce ntral portion of the cornea. We did not detect a correlation between cornea l thickness and density of endothelial cells in normal eyes of horses. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Density of corneal endothelial cells dec reases with age, but corneal thickness is not affected by age or sex in nor mal eyes of horses. The technique described here may be useful for determin ing density of endothelial cells in the cornea of enucleated eyes. This is clinically relevant for analyzing corneal donor tissue prior to harvest and use for corneal transplantation.