Is pseudoexfoliation syndrome associated with vitreoretinal interface abnormalities?

BACKGROUND: To evaluate vitreoretinal interface abnormalities in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome. METHODS: This case-control study was performed in 136 patients diagnosed with unilateral PEX (PEX group) and 139 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (Control group). Both the affected and contralateral eyes were evaluated in the PEX group and the right eye was evaluated in the Control group. Vitreoretinal interface abnormalities and posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) were evaluated on optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination. RESULTS: The incidences of incomplete and complete PVD were significantly higher in the affected than contralateral eye in the PEX group and in the right eye in the Control group (P = 0.009, P = 0.012 and P = 0.004, P = 0.017, respectively). The rates of 'no PVD' were significantly higher in the contralateral eye in the PEX group and the Control group compared to the affected eye in the PEX group (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively). The odds ratio for incomplete PVD was 3.1 in PEX eyes compared to the contralateral eye in the PEX group and 3.9 compared to the Control group. The rate of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) in the affected eye was significantly different from the contralateral eye in the PEX and Control groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The odds ratio for ERM in PEX eyes was 3.51 compared to the contralateral eye in the PEX group and 4.23 compared to the Control group. In the presence of incomplete PVD, the odds ratio for ERM development was 3.81 in PEX eyes. CONCLUSIONS: We detected high rates of ERMs and incomplete PVD in patients with PEX. It is important to evaluate and follow up PEX cases in terms of vitreoretinal interface abnormalities.

THICKNESSES OF SCLERA AND LAMINA CRIBROSA IN PATIENTS WITH CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.

PURPOSE: To evaluate thicknesses of sclera and lamina cribrosa (LC) in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). METHOD: Thirty-two patients with CRVO (mean age 62.2 ± 11.6 years, women/men 18/14) and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included into the study. Scleral thickness was measured at scleral spur and at 1 to 3 mm from scleral spur in four quadrants (temporal, nasal, super, and inferior) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Lamina cribrosa was measured using optic disk enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: The sclera was thicker in affected eyes of the CRVO group than healthy subjects at scleral spur in four quadrants (738.7 ± 30.9 µm vs. 702 ± 30.8 µm in temporal, 700.4 ± 19.7 µm vs. 673 ± 13.7 µm in superior, 693 ± 19.3 µm vs. 665.3 ± 24.2 µm in nasal, 810.7 ± 28.9 µm vs. 784.5 ± 23.7 µm in inferior quadrants, respectively; P < 0.05 for all). Lamina cribrosa thickness in affected eyes of the CRVO group was significantly higher than that of healthy subjects (285.2 ± 12.7 µm vs. 266.4 ± 10.7 µm, respectively; P < 0.01). The correlation between scleral thickness and LC thickness was moderate at scleral spur of temporal and superior quadrants of affected eyes (r = 0.510 and r = 0.420, respectively). CONCLUSION: Thicknesses of sclera and LC are increased in the CRVO, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.