Corneal Densitometry: A New Technique for Objective Assessment of Corneal Clarity in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal clarity quantitatively by using corneal densitometry in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) and to compare the results with those of healthy control subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Corneal densitometry measurement of patients with bilateral PES and healthy control subjects was carried out by Scheimpflug corneal topography (PentacamHR). For densitometry analysis, the 12-mm diameter area of the cornea was subdivided into 4 concentric radial zones (0 to 2, 2 to 6, 6 to 10, 10 to 12 mm) and also into anterior, central, and posterior layers based on corneal depth. Corneal densitometry measurements were expressed in gray scale unit and only the data from the right eyes of subjects were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 176 patients [89 with PES (52 male, 37 female) and 87 healthy control subjects (52 male, 35 female)] were enrolled in the study. There was no significant difference between the mean corneal densitometry values at anterior 120 μm, central, and posterior 60 μm of the cornea in all concentric radial zones (P>0.05 for all). Corneal densitometry was positively correlated with age in both groups (r=0.558, P<0.001 in PES; r=0.584, P<0.001 in control group).

CONCLUSIONS: Corneal densitometry that enables the objective assessment of corneal clarity was found to be similar in patients with bilateral PES and healthy control subjects. It is positively correlated with increasing age in both groups. However, microstructural changes that contribute to the corneal densitometry and the clinical relevance of these findings should be further highlighted in future studies.