title: Scanning laser ophthalmoscopic parameters of eyes with exfoliation syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate optic nerve head (ONH) characteristics in patients with exfoliation syndrome (EXS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional, observational study in which 73 eyes from 73 patients with EXS and 93 eyes from 93 age-matched healthy subjects who met the inclusion criteria were included. Topographic measurements of the ONH and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were performed by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, using a Heidelberg retina tomograph. Outcomes of interest were studied by Student t test and chi-squared test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EXS patients and age-matched controls did not differ in ONH parameters. Nevertheless, the mean cup depth and height variation contour values were higher in the normal subjects (P = 0.07, P = 0.056, respectively). Mean RNFL thickness was 0.22 +/- 0.06 mm in the EXS group and 0.26 +/- 0.06 mm in the control group, (P = 0.001). Likewise, the RNFL cross-sectional area was significantly lower in exfoliative eyes (1.16 +/- 0.35 mm(2)) than in those of the control group (1.31 +/- 0.33 mm(2)) (P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant differences in ONH parameters between EXS patients and age-matched healthy subjects were observed; however, RNFL measurements in eyes with EXS showed lower values.
authors.affiliation: II Eye Clinic, Ankara Ulucanlar Eye Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. abcankaya@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ali Bulent
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cankaya
authors.forename: Emrullah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beyazyildiz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology