How are pupillary parameters affected in pseudoexfoliation syndrome? A quantitative study

We evaluated the effects of pseudoexfoliation syndrome on dynamic, static pupillary parameters (scotopic, mesopic, photopic) and the pupil dilation speed, with automatic pupillometry.

The study group included 140 eyes with clinically visible pseudoexfoliation material (PXM) of 110 patients. The study group was compared with the control group formed by including 140 eyes of 110 patients. Scotopic measurements at 0.4 lx illumination, mesopic measurements at 4 lx illumination, and photopic measurements at 40 lx illumination were performed. Dynamic measurements were made at 500 lx illumination. The mean pupil dilation speed at 10th second was calculated. In addition, the eyes (80 patients) with clinically unilateral PXM were compared with the other eyes of the patients.

The mean scotopic, mesopic, photopic and dynamic pupil diameters of eyes with clinical PXM were compared with the control group, all values were found to be significantly lower in eyes with PXM. (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). The mean speed of pupil dilation at the 10th second was also significantly lower in the pseudoexfoliation syndrome group (p < 0.0001). The measurement results of the patients with clinical PXM were significantly lower than the other unaffected eyes (p = 0.001, p = 0.004, p = 0.048, p = 0.035, respectively). The mean speed of pupil dilation at 10th second was also significantly lower in eyes with PXM (p = 0.009).

Results clearly reveal that pseudoexfoliation syndrome affects iris mechanisms. Although pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a systemic syndrome, we can say that the emergence of iris dysfunction findings is parallel with the clinical observation of PXM.