Effect of Pseudoexfoliation on Corneal Transparency

PURPOSE:To perform a comparison of the corneal optical density (COD) parameters in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) and age-matched controls. METHODS:This study was designed as a prospective cross-sectional study. Pentacam HR-Scheimpflug imaging system was used to observe the COD of PES, normal fellow, and normal control eyes. Forty-two patients with unilateral PES and 40 age- and sex-matched normal subjects were included. Group 1 included eyes with PES, group 2 included the clinically unaffected fellow eyes, and group 3 included right eyes of healthy patients. Main outcome measures were densitometry values of the cornea. RESULTS:There was no significant difference between groups in means of central corneal thickness (P > 0.05). Eyes of unilateral PES patients and eyes of controls differed in COD parameters. Mean total COD in group 1 eyes (21.9 ± 4.9) and group 2 eyes (21.95 ± 5.1) was higher than that in group 3 eyes (17.72 ± 4.7) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:This research demonstrates that the presence of pseudoexfoliation material can cause decrease in the transparency of clear cornea.