Corneal sublayer thickness in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome evaluated by anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the thickness of each corneal sublayer in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS).

Methods: The study's sample consisted of the 74 eyes of 74 patients with PXS (group 1) and the 80 eyes of 80 individuals without PXS (group 2). Each participant was performed anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and Pentacam-Scheimpflug imaging. The thicknesses of corneal epithelium, Bowman's layer, stroma, and Descemet membrane-endothelial complex were measured separately from the AS-OCT images, on the central, 2 mm superior and inferior of the cornea. Central corneal thickness (CCT), apical corneal thickness (ACT), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), and corneal volume were also evaluated.

Results: According to the measurements of corneal topography, in group 1 versus group 2, mean CCT (529.85 ± 32.33 µm vs 551.36 ± 39.12 µm, p < 0.001), mean ACT (532.21 ± 35.56 µm vs 552.26 ± 49.24 µm, p < 0.001), and mean TCT (527.54 ± 51.45 µm vs 546.20 ± 49.20 µm, p = 0.002) were significantly thinner in group 1. In AS-OCT, the thickness of the epithelium, stroma, and Descemet membrane-endothelial complex in the central, inferior, and superior cornea were significantly thinner in group 1 than in group 2. However, the thickness of Bowman's layer did not significantly differ between the groups.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that all corneal sublayers except Bowman's layer were thinner in eyes with PXS than in healthy ones. Therefore, caution should be exercised for corneal involvement in patients with PXS.