This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Smoking reduces endothelial cell count, researchers say
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Researchers determined that smoking has no effect on corneal endothelial cell morphology; however, it seems to be associated with a reduction in the endothelial cell count, according to a study in Eye & Contact Lens.
Researchers studied the effects of smoking on central corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell density and morphology in otherwise healthy subjects.
The study included 103 current smokers and 106 healthy nonsmoking subjects with no eye disease apart from refractive errors. The mean age was 31.4 years in the nonsmoking group and 33.0 years in the current smoker group.
Mean central corneal thickness (CCT) value was 523.7 µm for nonsmokers and 518.5 µm in the smokers.
Researchers found no difference between the groups in terms of CCT, coefficient of variation (CV) and percentage of hexagonality values. A significant difference was determined in corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) values: 2,881 cells/mm2 was found in nonsmokers and 2,681 cells/mm2 in the smokers.
Researchers also noted a negative correlation between ECD and age. There was also a negative correlation between percentage of hexagonality and age.
Researchers detected a positive correlation between CV and age in nonsmokers. Age and type of group (being a smoker or nonsmoker) were significantly associated with ECD.
The researchers concluded that smoking likely worsens ocular hypoxia caused by ocular hypertension in addition to reducing tissue oxygenation and collagen production during wound healing.
“Tobacco smoke and nicotine derivatives may play a role in the cell death and apoptosis of the corneal endothelium,” researchers wrote.
The reduction in endothelial cell count should be kept in mind to avoid endothelial decompensation when planning intraocular surgery, researchers wrote. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts