Morphometry of the optic disc in glaucoma eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome

Eyes with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) have typical features in the morphology of the anterior segment of the eye. We carried out an investigation to ascertain whether there are also differences in the posterior segment. Using 15 degrees color stereo optic disc photographs, 55 eyes with chronic open-angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation and 398 eyes with primary chronic open-angle glaucoma without PEX were examined morphometrically. There were no significant differences in: (1) quantitative parameters, such as the size and form of the optic disc, optic cup, neuroretinal rim, peripapillary scleral ring Elschnig, and the alpha and beta zones of the parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy; (2) qualitative parameters such as the location of the smallest part of the neuroretinal rim, the count of bared circumlinear and cilioretinal vessels, the number and localization of optic disc hemorrhages, the discrepancy between a smaller area with pallor and a larger area with cupping, and decreased visibility of the retinal nerve-fiber bundles in the parapapillary region; (3) localized and diffuse defects in the retinal nerve fiber layer; (4) perimetric indices. Although the maximal values of the intraocular pressure were significantly higher in the PEX group, the morphology of the intra- and parapapillary region was not significantly different.