Abstract
Introduction:
Pseudoexfoliation in the eye is diagnosed by the presence of white, flaky, dandruff-like fibrillo granular material on the pupillary margin or the anterior capsule of the lens. A characteristic “three-ring sign” is noted on the anterior lens capsule after pupillary dilatation. The presence of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) material in the anterior stromal layers of the cornea and a decrease in the stromal cell densities have been suggested to be the cause of thinner CCT in eyes with PEX. The thinning is presumed to be due to apoptosis of the keratocytes. Aim: To evaluate Central Corneal Thickness in patients with pseudo-exfoliation syndrome and compare them with normal healthy controls. Material & Methods: The proposed case-control hospital-based study comprised 100 participants divided into two groups: Group I: Patients above 40 years of age diagnosed with pseudoexfoliation syndrome on Slit lamp examination. Group II: Healthy individuals above 40 years of age without pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Informed written consent was taken from all participants. Other ophthalmic or systemic conditions which influence the corneal thickness measurement like Corneal dystrophies, degenerations, scars and post corneal refractive surgery, previous ocular surgery or ocular trauma, Glaucoma, Ocular hypertension, Uveitis, Systemic diseases like diabetes, or with ocular manifestations (collagen, skin, mucous membrane diseases), usage of topical medications which might affect the corneal conditions (esp. medications with preservatives), were excluded from the study. After a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, specular microscopy was performed on all study participants using TOPCON SP-1P Specular microscope to record central corneal thickness. Results: The mean Central Corneal Thickness (µm) obtained from specular microscopy in the PEX group was 487.34±27.16, while in controls, the mean Central Corneal Thickness (µm) recorded using specular microscopy was 505.09±26.36. The comparison of CCT (µm) between the PEX group and the Control group was statistically significant (p-value <0.0001). Conclusion: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome significantly affects the Central Corneal Thickness.

Key words: Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome, Central Corneal Thickness, Specular Microscopy