Flat Preparation and Scanning Electron Microscopic Findings of Corneal Guttata

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The corneas obtained from 38 donor eyeballs were examined whether corneal guttata was present or not by flat preparation(15 eyeballs) and scanning electron microscopy(23 eyeballs) in order to investigate the relationship between age and the incidence of corneal guttata. METHODS: The corneal endothelial cells with Descemet's membrane were prepared on slides flat and examined by light microscope. The surface of the corneal endothelial cells was examined by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The endothelial excrescences with pigment deposit were shown at the corneal periphery near the trabecular meshwork. The oval to round shaped corneal warts were isolated or confluent in shape. The corneal endothelial cells were variable in size. The cytoplasmic processes were observed on the surface of the bare Descemet's membrane. The fibrillar structure of the degenerating cytoplasm of the corneal endothelial cells over the corneal warts was shown with central pit. The fibrillar excrescences over Descemet's membrane was in banded structures. CONCLUSIONS: In normal cornea, corneal guttata was observed by flat preparation in all cases over 43 years. The endothelial edema was noted in two eyes combined with corneal guttata with the degeneration or loss of corneal endothelial cell.