Evaluation of the Endothelial Cell Density and the Central Corneal Thickness in Senile Cataract with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

Objectives: To evaluate endothelial cell density (ECD) and central corneal thickness (CCT) in patients with senile cataract with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG) using specular microscopy. Study Design: Case control study. Methodology: A total of 111 in-patients and out-patients with senile cataract and PEX syndrome and PEXG at a tertiary care hospital were included in the study. They were divided into three groups, controls (CNT), PEX syndrome, and PEXG groups with 37 patients in each group based on diagnosis by clinical findings. ECD and CCT were assessed by specular microscopy. A P value <0.05 was taken as significant at 95% CI. Results: In PEXG, PEX, and CNT groups, mean ECD was 1918.68 ± 369.04 cells/mm 2 , 2149.57 ± 364.03 cells/mm 2 , and 2340.04 ± 394.75 cells/mm 2 , respectively, with statistically significant results. Mean CCT was 497.3 ± 32 µm, 494.1 ± 31.2 µm, and 496.8 ± 26.1 µm in PEXG, PEX, and CNT groups, respectively ( P value –0.805). Conclusion: The endothelial cell density in patients with PEXG and PEX syndrome was found to be significantly lower compared to controls. Cell density has to be evaluated in PEX syndrome with or without glaucoma to prevent further damage to these cells during subsequent anterior segment surgeries.