Abstract: Objective To evaluate the impact of dry eye on corneal endothelial cell density and morphology and explore the influencing factors involved. Method 156 patients were recruited from the ophthalmology department of our hospital between June 2017 and January 2018 and were divided into two groups, a dry eye group and a control group, on the basis of their history and examination results. Examinations included uncorrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, non-contact intraocular pressure, tear break-up time, Schirmer I test(without anesthesia), corneal fluoresce staining, and non-contact specular microscope for evaluating the corneal endothelia. Meanwhile, the patients’onset time of dry eye symptoms and ocular surface disease index(OSDI)were also collected. Results Compared with the control group, the endothelial cell density(ECD)was statistically lower, and the average cell area(ACA)was statistically larger. Age, duration of dry eye symptoms, and OSDI were negatively correlated with ECD, and were positively correlated with ACA. Age and OSDI were positively correlated with a coefficient of variation. Moreover, the hexagonality of corneal endothelial cells in females was statistically lower than in males. Conclusion Corneal endothelial cells in the dry eye patients had reduced density and damaged morphology.

Key words: Dry eye, Corneal nerves, Corneal endothelial cells, Inflammation