الفهرس 
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Abstract
Background and aim: Glaucoma is a major public health problem in the world, causing immense damage to the optic nerve. Controversies rises regarding the effect of primary open angel glaucoma (POAG) on the corneal tissue. Corneal thickness and cell density are indirect measures of endothelial function. So we aimed to study the effect of POAG on corneal endothelium.
Methods: Our study included 265 eyes divided into three groups; normal eyes group and eyes with primary open angle glaucoma patient (POAC) which are subdivided into controlled and uncontrolled groups. They underwent ophthalmological assessment and corneal assessment using specular microscopy.
Results: Endothelium cell count (ECC) was significantly higher among normal control vs. controlled and uncontrolled patients (p-value = 0.002 & 0.001 respectively) and also was significantly higher among controlled patients vs. uncontrolled (p-value = 0.001). Coefficient variant (CV) was significantly lower among normal healthy control individuals as compared with glaucoma patients. It was lower among normal control vs. controlled glaucoma patients but without a statistically significant difference (p-value = 0.1). But, it was significantly lower among normal control vs. uncontrolled glaucoma patients (p-value = 0.001) and was significantly lower among controlled glaucoma patients vs. uncontrolled (p-value = 0.001). There was no statistically significant differences among the three studied groups regarding HEX or central corneal thickness (CCT). The IOP was moderately negative correlated with visual acuity (r= -0.512, p=0.001) and strongly negative correlated with Endothelial Thickness (r= -0.755, p=0.001). It was strongly positive correlated with CV% (r=867, p=0.001). No detected correlation with neither HEX nor CCT as the p-values were >0.05.
Conclusion: POAG (either controlled or uncontrolled) affect corneal endothelial cell count (ECC) and cell size and quality. But it doesn’t affect CCT or cell morphology. Early treatment of glaucoma patients helps avoid corneal affection.
Keywords: Primary open angel glaucoma, Central corneal thickness, specular microscope, corneal endothelial cell count.