Evaluation of Anterior Scleral Thickness and Angle Parameters in Eyes with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Glaucoma.

Prcis: The relationship between anterior scleral thickness (AST) and scleral spur (SS) length was disrupted in eyes with pseudoexfoliation (PX), and SS length was shorter in eyes with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG).

Objectives: To evaluate AST in eyes with PX and to examine the relationship between AST and Schlemm canal (SC), trabecular meshwork (TM), and SS.

Patients and methods: Thirty-eight patients with PX syndrome (PXS), 38 patients with PXG, and 38 healthy patients were included in the study. Using sweep source anterior segment optical coherence tomography, AST (0, 1, 2, and 3 mm from the SS), SC, and TM were visualized in the nasal and temporal areas, and measurements were compared between groups. The relationships between corneal thickness, TM, SS, SC, and AST were then evaluated.

Results: In all groups, the AST, SC, and TM measurements were similar ( P > 0.05). In the PXG group, SS lengths in the temporal area were shorter than those in the control and PXS groups ( P = 0.012). There were significant correlations between TM length and AST in the PXG group ( P < 0.05). The SS length exhibited moderately positive correlations with SC length and mean TM thickness in the PXG ( P < 0.05). There was a significant relationship between AST0 and SS in healthy eyes ( P < 0.05), but not in other eyes.

Conclusions: The shorter SS length observed in eyes with PXG may be a sign of structural changes. In addition, disruption of the relationship between AST and SS may be an early sign of pathologic processes, especially in eyes with PXS, and may require closer follow-up of these eyes.