Measurement of Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome Using Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Background/Aim: Pseudoexfoliation (PSX) syndrome is associated with blood flow disturbances; however, its exact effect on choroidal blood flow and thickness remains to be elucidated. This study compared subfoveal choroidal thickness in normal eyes and in eyes with PSX using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 35 eyes of 35 patients (20 males, 15 females) with unilateral or bilateral PSX and 26 eyes of 26 healthy volunteers (13 males, 13 females). Besides a comprehensive ocular and physical examination, all subjects underwent EDI-OCT examination using an Optovue RTVue OCT device (Optovue Inc., Fremont, Calif., USA). Results: The mean choroidal thickness (CT) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) were lower in the PSX group than in the healthy controls (249.4 ± 46.3 vs. 282.5 ± 55.8 µm, p = 0.014 and 40.7 ± 5.8 vs. 44.3 ± 4.3 mm Hg, p = 0.007, respectively). In addition, both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure measurements were lower among the PSX patients. However, no correlation was found between CT and OPP. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that PSX is associated with an overall thinning of the subfoveal choroid and a significant decrease in OPP. Future studies are warranted to further examine these relations.