ABSTRACT
AIM: To compare the level of serum Vitamin D in patients with exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and exfoliative glaucoma (XFG) with that in control subjects. METHODS: Serum levels of 25 - hydroxy Vitamin D ( Vitamin D ) were measured using liquid chromatography. Variables like age, sex and medical history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease were reported. RESULTS:This study included a total of 55 patients with XFS/XFG and 60 control subjects. Patients with XFS/XFG were significantly older than control subjects (mean age:71.8y vs 67. 5y, P = 0. 002). Gender distribution was similar. The prevalence rates of diabetes, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean of Vitamin D was 14.7 ng/mL for patients with XFS/XFG and 14. 9 ng/mL for control subjects with no significant difference. Although Vitamin D level was lower in the XFS/XFG group but multivariate analysis did not show significant difference in Vitamin D deficiency between the two groups after adjusting for age,gender,and medical conditions. CONCLUSION:The outcomes of our study are different from those in the literature. Vitamin D levels were low in both the XFS/XFG group and the control group being lower in the first one but that difference was not statistically significant. XFS and Vitamin D deficiency share common associations with certain systemic diseases. Further studies with larger numbers are needed to elaborate more on these associations and to support further the controversial literature.