To evaluate the corneal endothelium characteristics in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum.

Nine patients (15 eyes) with classic skin changes of xeroderma pigmentosum were included in the study conducted during August 2015 -June 2016. An age-matched group of 9 (18 eyes) volunteers were included as controls who were emmetropes without any history of ocular or systemic illness. Corneal endothelium was assessed using specular microscopy (Tomey 3000) from the central clear area of cornea.

The mean age of the patients with xeroderma pigmentosum 29.66±11.36 years and that of the controls was 28.00±11.30 years (p=0.67). The endothelial cell density were significantly lower in xeroderma pigmentosum (p=0.002), whereas the central corneal thickness, coefficient of variation of cell area, maximum cell area and hexogonality were not significantly different in case and control groups (p=0.066, 0.052, 0.07 and 0.52 respectively).

Current study findings are highly suggestive for an accelerated endothelial cell loss in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum so it should come to consideration in routine examination of these patients.