Measurement of Choroidal Thickness in Patients of Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Introduction: Pseudoexfoliation (PEX) is a disorder characterized by the progressive accumulation of fibrillary extracellular deposits in several ocular tissues including the iris, anterior chamber angle, lens capsule and zonules. Pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome is known to be associated with both ocular and choroidal blood flow changes. However there are only few studies regarding the Choroidal Thickness (CT) changes in PEX.

Aim: To evaluate the choroidal thickness in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome using optical coherence tomography and to compare them with healthy controls.

Materials and Methods: Macular Choroidal thickness 70 patients of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and 70 control subjects were compared in this prospective study using Cirrhus Spectral Domain OCT (Carl Zeiss). The choroidal thickness (CT) is measured perpendicularly (from the outer edge of the hyper reflective retinal pigment epithelium to the inner sclera) at the fovea, and 1.5 mm temporal, 3.0 mm temporal, 1.5 mm nasal, and 3.0 mm nasal to the fovea using SD-OCT. Complete ocular and physical examination was also done in all subjects.

Results: The mean subfoveal CT was statistically significant thinner in PEX group as compared to healthy controls (245.48±36.42 μm vs. 312.43±30.21 μm, p value=0.03 respectively).

The mean CT 1.5mm and 3mm nasal of fovea was also statistically significant thinner in PEX group as compared to healthy controls (205.32±26.89 μm vs. 285.36±28.01μm, p value=0.02 and 145.28±38.92 μm vs. 198.56±32.21 μm, p value=0.04 respectively).

The mean CT 1.5 mm and 3 mm temporal of fovea was also thinner in PEX group as compared to healthy controls, however results did not reach any statistical significance.

Conclusion: PEX patients have thinner choroids as compared to clinically unaffected healthy individuals.