Corneal endothelium cells and corneal thickness in pseudoexfoliation syndrome –The Reykjavik Eye Study–

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To examine the endothelial morphology and the central thickness of the cornea in the eyes of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) in the Icelandic population. Methods: The 1045 subjects who participated in The Reykjavik Eye Study (RES) in 1996 were reexamined 5 years later in 2001. 846 or 88.2% of these subjects participated in the RES in 2001. Among the 846 participants, 588 right eyes (mean age 66.6±7.8 years old, male 45.6%) with analyzable images of the lenses and corneal endothelium and those without any history of previous glass blowing, previous trauma, or intra–ocular surgery were enrolled in this study. Slitlamp examination was performed with and without pupil dilatation by a single observer. Eyes with a partial or complete central shield with or without a peripheral band were determined as having PEX. The corneal endothelial morphology and central corneal thickness were examined using a non–contact specular microscope (Noncon ROBO, Kohnan Co.). Results: : Among 588 eyes, PEX was observed in 41 eyes (mean age 71.8±7.3 years, male 29%) and non–PEX in 547 eyes (mean age 66.3±7.7 years, male 47%). The corneal endothelial cell density, the percentage of hexagonal cells, the coefficient of variation for the cell area and corneal thickness were 2482±339/mm², 59.5±8.3%, 35.0±4.7, 551.6±38.4µm in the PEX eyes and 2487±388/mm², 57.7±9.8%, 36.5±8.7, 550.3±42.4µm in the non–PEX eyes. No significant difference in any of these factors was observed between the two groups. The percentage of hexagonal cells was significantly higher .in the males of the PEX group than the males of the non–PEX group according to analysis of age and sex (P=0.043). Conclusions: No significant difference was seen in the corneal endothelial morphology between PEX and non–PEX in the Icelandic population aged over 55 years old.

Keywords: cornea: endothelium