Evaluation sterometric parameters of the optic nerve head in the III and IV stage of pseudoexfoliation syndrome

Purpose
Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) often coexists with glaucomatous optic nerve head damage. Confocal scanning laser tomography Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) is the most competent and accurate technique of monitoring of glaucomatous optic nerve head damage. Our aim was to determine correlation between stage of PEX and glaucomatous optic nerve head damage, by using HRT system.

Material and methods
Two groups of patients underwent examination. The examined PEX-group with 35 eyes with III stage and 35 eyes with IV stage of PEX. The control group (POAG patients) of 44 eyes. Stereometric parameters Disc Area, Cup Area, Cup/Disc Area Ratio, Rim Area, Height Variation Contour, Cup Volume, Rim Volume, Mean Cup Depth, Max Cup Depth, Cup Shape Measure, Mean RNFL Thickness, RNFL Cross Section Area were obtained by HRT.

Results
No statistcal differences were noted between III and IV stage of PEX for DA, HVC, RV, Mean RNFL Thickness and RNFL Cross Section Area parameters. Between III stage of PEX and control group no statistical differences were confirmed for HVC. Between IV stage of PEX and control group no statistical differences have respect to: CSM, Mean RNFL Thickness and RNFL Cross Section Area stereometric parameters.

Conclusions
IV stage of PEX syndrome is the serious risk for glaucomatous neuropathy and requires precise monitoring.