Purpose: Evaluation of tear film functions of the patients who have pseudoexfoliation syndrome by break-up time and basal Schirmer tests.
Material and method: 35 eyes of 18 patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, and 36 eyes of 18 controls were taken for this study. All the patients were not treated any drug. The mean age of the patient group was 64,40±0,64 years, and the mean age of control group was 62,72±0,88 years. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups for age (p>0,05). There were 2 women (%11,1) and 16 men (%88,9) in the patient group and there were 2 women (%11,1) and 16 men (%88,9) in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups for sex (p>0,05). Their tear film functions were evaluated by break-up time and basal Schirmer tests. Goldmann applanation tonometery was used for measuring inrtaocular pressures.
Results: The mean break-up time of the patient group was 5,86±0,63 sec and the control group’s was 11,61±0,52 sec. The mean Schirmer score of patient group was 12,71±1,03 mm and the control group’s was 16,28±1,04 mm. The mean intraocular pressure of the patient group was 14,31±0,36 mmHg and the control group’s was 11,22±0,37 mmHg. There were statistically significant differences between both group for break-up time, basal Schirmer tests and intraocular pressures.
Conclusion: Basal Schirmer and break-up time volues of the patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome were lower. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome was found to be associated with impaired tear film functions.
Key words: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome, tear film functions