title: The Effect of Pseudoexfoliation and Pseudoexfoliation Induced Dry Eye on Central Corneal Thickness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and PEX-induced dry eye on central corneal thickness (CCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study consists of total 270 eyes of 135 patients (67 females, 68 males) in total. After excluding the PEX (-) 32 eyes with PEX in the other eye, totally 130 eyes in PEX (-) group and 108 eyes in the PEX (+) group were included in the study. The PEX (+) group was regrouped as PEX syndrome (80 eyes of 50 patients) and PEX glaucoma (28 eyes of 20 patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the PEX (-) group, the mean Schirmer test result was 12 ± 4 mm (4-25 mm), in the PEX syndrome group 10 ± 4 mm (4-22 mm), in the PEX glaucoma group 9 ± 3 mm (4-15 mm). The difference among the PEX (-) group, the PEX syndrome and the PEX glaucoma groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). In the PEX (-) group, the mean tear break up time test result was 11 ± 2 s (5-16 s), in the PEX syndrome group 8 ± 3 (3-16 s), in the PEX glaucoma group 8 ± 3 s (5-15 s). Mean CCT result was 544 µm in the PEX (-), 521 µm in the PEX syndrome group and 533 µm in the PEX glaucoma group. The difference among the PEX (-) group, the PEX syndrome and the PEX glaucoma groups was significant (p < 0.001, p = 0.030, respectively). There was a significant (+) correlation between intraocular pressure and CCT in the eyes with PEX (r = 0.307, p = 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant correlation between CCT, Schirmer and tear break up time tests in the eyes with PEX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PEX material can cause decrease in tear film secretion and disturb tear film stability. There is no effect of PEX-induced dry eye on CCT. Lower CCT values in the eyes with PEX material may be a result of decrease in corneal stromal cell density. Moreover, higher CCT values may be because of decreased endothelial cells in PEX glaucoma patients.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , School of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak , Turkey and.
authors.forename: M Orcun
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Akdemir
authors.affiliation: b Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirgiz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , School of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ayar
authors.affiliation: b Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Havva
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaldirim
authors.affiliation: b Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mert
authors.affiliation: b Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Kubra Serefoglu
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cabuk
authors.affiliation: b Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhittin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taskapili
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Central corneal thickness; dry eye; pseudoexfoliation; pseudoexfoliation glaucoma; pseudoexfoliation syndrome