Corneal endothelial photography. Three-year revision. American Academy of Ophthalmology.

When properly done, corneal endothelial photography has been shown to be a relatively safe, reliable, and effective means to ascertain corneal endothelial cell density (cells/ mm2) and to provide information about endothelial cell morphometry. Currently, this procedure is not essential prior to routine cataract surgery, but may be indicated in situations in which the cornea is suspected of having endothelial abnormality and in which the accuracy of the estimated cell count from slit-lamp biomicroscopy is thought to be less than satisfactory. These situations include but are not limited to (1) eyes before secondary lens implantation; (2) eyes in which the status of the corneal endothelium is of concern because of a history of trauma, acute glaucoma, inflammation, or corneal transplantation; (3) eyes that contain intraocular lenses that are partially dislocated or are suspected of causing chronic inflammation or endothelial injury; and (4) eyes in which the fellow eye has a history of unexplained corneal edema.