Purpose: To determine the changes of corneal endothelium in pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and the relations between their changes and aqueous flare intensity.
Methods: 26 eyes with PEX syndrome, 17 clinically unaffected fellow eyes and 27 normal age-matched eyes were studied. The corneal endothelium of the eyes was examined using a specular microscope, and the aqueous flare intensity of the eyes was measured using a laser flare cell meter.
Results: The corneal endothelial density significantly decreased both in the eyes with PEX and in the clinically unaffected fellow eyes compared to the normal control eyes (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). The acqueous flare intensity significantly increased in PEX syndrome (p < 0.01). There was a significantly inverse correlation between the corneal endothelial cell density and the aqueous flare intensity in PEX.
Conclusion: A decrease in corneal endothelial cells was quantitatively identified in PEX syndrome. This change might have a relationship with a disorder of the blood-aqueous barrier in this syndrome.
Copyright 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel