The identification of different vascular cells on the corneal endothelium by specular microscopy. I. Red blood cells and corneal endothelial changes in hyphaema secondary to contusion injury.

In order to differentiate clearly red blood cells and their relationship to the corneal endothelium, specular microscopy was performed in patients with hyphaema due to contusion injury. This enabled the clear identification of red blood cells as rounded, umbilicated or flattened spheroidal structures depending on whether they were seen side on or end on. They were seen best in the relief mode lying on the posterior endothelial surface and not infiltrating the corneal endothelium. It also disclosed the presence of subendothelial blebs one to three cells in diameter seen at the level of the corneal mosaic and not in the relief mode. These are probably due to mild oedema following the contusion injury and were distinct from the red blood cells. The corneal endothelial cell count and morphology were similar to that in the other eye when the changes resolved a week or so after the injury.