Corneal endothelial changes and aqueous flare intensity in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the changes of corneal endothelium in pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and the relations between their changes and aqueous flare intensity.


METHODS
26 eyes with PEX syndrome, 17 clinically unaffected fellow eyes and 27 normal age-matched eyes were studied. The corneal endothelium of the eyes was examined using a specular microscope, and the aqueous flare intensity of the eyes was measured using a laser flare cell meter.


RESULTS
The corneal endothelial density significantly decreased both in the eyes with PEX and in the clinically unaffected fellow eyes compared to the normal control eyes (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). The acqueous flare intensity significantly increased in PEX syndrome (p < 0.01). There was a significantly inverse correlation between the corneal endothelial cell density and the aqueous flare intensity in PEX.


CONCLUSIONS
A decrease in corneal endothelial cells was quantitatively identified in PEX syndrome. This change might have a relationship with a disorder of the blood-aqueous barrier in this syndrome.
Wang
L
L
Department of Ophthalmology, Doctoral Program in Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan. md955401@igaku.md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Yamasita
R
R
Hommura
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018916:Blood-Aqueous Barrier; D002452:Cell Count; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies