Posters

Effect of pseudoexfoliation and pseudoexfoliation-induced dry eye on central corneal thickness

Poster Details

First Author: M.Akdemir TURKEY

Co Author(s):    A. Kirgiz   O. Ayar   H. Kaldirim   M. Mert   K. Serefoglu Cabuk   M. Taskapili

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and pseudoexfoliation induced dry eye on central corneal thickness (CCT).

Setting:

Bulent Ecevit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Zonguldak, Turkey. Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey

Methods:

This cross sectional study consists of total 270 eyes of 135 patients (67 females, 68 males) in total. After excluding the PEX (-) 32 eyes with PEX material in the other eye, totally 130 eyes in control group and 118 eyes in the PEX (+) group were included in the study. The PEX (+) group was regrouped as PEX syndrome (80 eyes of 50 patients) and PEX glaucoma (28 eyes of 20 patients).

Results:

In the control group the mean Schirmer test result was 12.80±4.11mm (4-25mm), in the PEX syndrome group 10.70±4.63 (4-22mm), in the PEX glaucoma group 9.18±3.35mm (4-15mm). The difference among the control group, the PEX syndrome and the PEX glaucoma groups was statistically significant (p<0.001, p<0.001 respectively). In the control group the mean BUT test result was 11.16±2.77 sec (5-16sec), in the PEX syndrome group 8.61±3.29 (3-16sec), in the PEX Glaucoma group 8.46±2.79sec (5-15sec). Mean CCT results were 544.26 in the control group, 521.60 in the PEX syndrome group, and 533.64 in the PEX glaucoma group. The differences among control and the PEX syndrome and the PEX glaucoma groups were significant (p<0.001, p=0.030). There was a significant (+) correlation between IOP and CCT in the eyes with PEX (r=0.307, p=0.001). However, there was no statistically significant correlation between CCT, Schirmer and BUT tests in the eyes with PEX.

Conclusions:

PEX material can cause decrease in tear film secretion and disturb tear film stability. There is no effect of pseudoexfoliation induced dry eye on central corneal thickness. Lower CCT values in the eyes with PEX material may be a result of decrease in corneal cell density. Moreover higher CCT values may because of decreased endothelial cells in PEX glaucoma patients. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE