Background. Actuality of the study is due to the fact that according to the literature pseudoexfoliative syndrome is a systemic degenerative process that affects not only the anterior but also the posterior segment of the eye.
The purpose of the research is to describe the features of the optic disc and peripapillary retina in patients with cataract complicated pseudoexfoliative syndrome and glaucoma by method of spectral optical coherent tomography.
Methods. The study included 25 patients (50 eyes) with initial and immature cataract without pseudoexfoliative syndrome, 100 patients (200 eyes) with initial and immature cataract with pseudoexfoliative syndrome and 31 patients (46 eyes) with initial and immature cataract complicated by pseudoexfoliative syndrome and glaucoma. Examination of the optic nerve was performed by spectral optical coherent tomography apparatus SOCT Copernicus Optopol standard protocol scanning 3D Disc analysis.
Results. It was found that 17% of patients with cataract and pseudoexfoliative syndrome were revealed peripapillary retinal pigment epithelium atrophy. In patients with pseudoexfoliative syndrome without breaking the hydrodynamic volume of the neuro-retinal rim was over 0.31 mm3 that points to the absence of clinically significant signs of optical neuropathy. In patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma statistically significant decrease in the nerve fiber layer thickness in the peripapillary region was revealed, compared with a group of patients without glaucoma: 13% in stage I, 27% in stage II, 47% in stage III glaucoma.
Conclusions. Peripapillar retina changes in according to the SOCT in pseudoexfoliative syndrome are as retinal pigment epithelium atrophy. In patients with pseudoexfoliative syndrome without hydrodynamic disorders the volume of the neuro-retinal rim is not changed. In patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma observed a progressive decreasing in the thickness of the nerve fiber layer, accompanied by changes in the basal complex of peripapillar retina. Early detection of changes in the optic disc by SOCT method can be recommended for predicting the development of the optic nerve neuropathy in pseudoexfoliative syndrome.