Central corneal thickness and curvature changes in pseudoexfoliation eyes in comparison with normal eyes

Abstract

Background:Pseudoexfoliation (PXF) syndrome results in the accumulation of PXF, particularly along the pupillary margin and throughout various structures in the anterior chamber of the eye. Many changes in various structures of the eye are observed secondary to the deposition of pseudoexfoliative material. This study is to observe the corneal curvatural and central corneal thickness changes due to pseudoexfoliation as compared to age related normal individuals without PXF.Aims and objectives: To compare central corneal thickness (CCT) and Central Corneal Curvature (CCC) changes in pseudoexfoliation eyes with normal eyes.Material and methods: A case control cross-sectional study conducted from January-June 2018 among elderly of 50-80 years, attending Ophthalmology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. Elderly patients (50-80 years), with or without PXF, underwent anterior and posterior segment examination, intraocular pressure, subjective refraction and CCT, CCC using AS-OCT. Data entered in MS EXCEL & statistical analysis performed with the help of SPSS 17.0 by using descriptive statistics like mean, percentage and were compared by chi square test. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the variables among the three groups. P<0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: CCT in PXF eyes was thinner (mean 509 +/- 15 microns) when compared to the normal (control) eyes (mean 549 +/_6 microns). CCT in PXF glaucoma eyes was least (mean 498 =/-10 microns). Central corneal curvature showed no variation among PXF eyes (mean 43.23 dioptres) and normal eyes (mean 43.58 dioptres).Conclusion: PXF eyes shows significantly thinner cornea and normal corneal curvature when compared to control eyes. PXF has no effect on corneal curvature. Further, PXF glaucoma eyes had thinnest CCT.

Keywords: central corneal thickness, pseudoexfoliation, central corneal curvature, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma