Pseudoexfoliation syndrome as risk factor for «dry eye» syndrome 

Brezhnev A.Yu.¹, Baranov V.I.¹, Petrov S.Yu.<sup>2

1</sup> Kursk State Medical University, Kursk, Russia­
² The Scientific Research Institute of Eye Diseases,  Moscow, Russia

Purpose: to evaluate the influence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) on the development and clinical course of «dry eye» syndrome. 
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional «case-control» study included 240 eyes of 120 patients with PEX and 240 eyes of 120 normal age-matched individuals. Pseudoexfoliation was established by slit-lamp examination with a maximally dilated pupil. To study the tear function Schirmer’s I test and tear film break-up time (TBUT) were performed.
Results. Both Schirmer test and break-up time values were significantly lower in the PEX patients than in the control group. In the PEX-group the mean TBUT result was 7,93±2,14 s, in control group - 10,37±3,0 s (p<0,001). The mean  Schirmer’s I test results were 9,55±3,12 mm and 11,63±3,53 mm, respectively (p<0,001). 
Lid parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) were presented in73,8% of PEX eyes and 52,9% of normal eyes (p=0,000002, χ²=22,428). TBUT and Schirmer’s I test score showed an inverse correlation with age in both groups. The difference between PEX and individuals was significant in every age group (p<0,001). Significantly lower tear production and TBUT were associated with increasing degree of PEX. Patients with clinically «unilateral» PEX had a lower TBUT in the PEX-positive eye compared with the non-involved fellow eye (8,5±2,1 s and 9,9±1,7 s, relatively) (p=0,001).
Conclusion. Compared with age-matched individuals, PEX was found to be associated with lower scores in Schirmer I and break-up time tests and can be considered as «risk factor» for dry eye syndrome. The degree of TBUT and Schirmer’s changes depends on the stage of PEX. 
Key words: pseudoexfoliation syndrome, dry eye syndrome, tear film break-up time, Schirmer’s test.
For citation: Brezhnev A.Yu., Baranov V.I., Petrov S.Yu. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome as risk factor for «dry eye» syndrome // RMJ. Clinical ophthalmology. 2016. № 1. P. 30–34.