Corneal endothelial changes following a single session of selective laser trabeculoplasty for pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.

Abstract

To evaluate corneal endothelial cell parameters after a single session of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEG) patients. Corneal endothelial cell parameters of 18 PEG patients were compared with 18 healthy subjects following SLT treatment. All patients underwent SLT treatment to 180 degrees of inferior trabecular meshwork. Corneal measurements were performed using specular microscopy (Noncon Robo SP8000, Konan Medical, Hyogo, Japan). Endothelial cell density (ECD), hexagonal cell ratio (HEX), coefficient of variation (CV) of the corneal endothelial cell layer and central corneal thickness of the patients were measured at each visit. There was a statistically significant decrease in ECD (p=0.004) and a statistically significant increase in CV (p=0.041) at superior cornea 1week after SLT. They returned to pre-SLT values at 1month. One hour post-SLT HEX of inferior cornea was statistically significantly reduced (p=0.01). At central cornea, there was a significant increase in HEX after 1week (p=0.001). Post-SLT IOP showed a significant positive correlation with CV and significant negative correlation with HEX at superior and inferior cornea. There was no correlation between total laser energy used and endothelial cell parameters. Effect of a single session ofSLT on corneal endothelium of PEG patients appears to be transient, and superior cornea was more affected than central and inferior cornea. All parameters returned to pre-SLT values at 1month after treatment.