Central corneal endothelial cell counts in children.

Our data indicate that corneal endothelial cell density in a normal eye remains essentially unchanged from ages five to 20. Changes in cell density and morphology during the first five years of life need further investigation. In this study, the mean endothelial cell count of a normal population of children was 2696 cells/mm2. Children undergoing cataract aspiration had a mean cell loss from the normal of 7.2%. The cell loss rates for push-pull aspiration-irrigation or phacoemulsification cataract extraction were not statistically different. The implantation of an intraocular lens was associated with a 33.3% endothelial cell loss when compared to the control or normal population of eyes. A mean loss of 38.0% was noted when the IOL eyes were compared to their normal fellow eyes.