© 2013 Wichtig Editore - ISSN 1120-6721 Eur J Ophthalmol ( 2013; : 5) 743-750 23 743 Scanning laser polarimetry in eyes with exfoliation syndrome Antonios T. Dimopoulos 1 , Andreas Katsanos 2 , Dimitrios G. Mikropoulos 1 , Theodoros Giannopoulos 1 , Theodoros Empeslidis 1 , Miguel A. Teus 3 , Gábor Holló 4 , Anastasios G.P. Konstas 1 1 1st University Department of Ophthalmology, Thessaloniki - Greece 2 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina - Greece 3 Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid - Spain 4 Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest - Hungary Purpose: To compare retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) of normotensive eyes with exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and healthy eyes. Methods: Sixty-four consecutive individuals with XFS and normal office-time intraocular pressure (IOP) and 72 consecutive healthy controls were prospectively enrolled for a cross-sectional analy- sis in this hospital-based observational study. The GDx-VCC parameters (temporal-superior-nasal- inferior-temporal [TSNIT] average, superior average, inferior average, TSNIT standard deviation (SD), and nerve fiber indicator [NFI]) were compared between groups. Correlation between various clinical parameters and RNFLT parameters was investigated with Spearman coefficient. Results: The NFI, although within normal limits for both groups, was significantly greater in the XFS group compared to controls: the respective median and interquartile range (IQR) values were 25.1 (22.0-29.0) vs 15.0 (12.0-20.0), p<0.001. In the XFS group, all RNFLT values were significantly lower compared to controls (p<0.001). However, they were all within the normal clinical ranges for both groups: TSNIT average median (IQR): 52.8 (49.7-55.7) vs 56.0 (53.0-59.3) μm; superior average mean (SD): 62.3 (6.7) vs 68.8 (8.2) μm; inferior average mean (SD): 58.0 (7.2) vs 64.8 (7.7) μm, respectively. TSNIT SD was significantly lower in the XFS group, median (IQR): 18.1 (15.4-20.4) vs 21.0 (18.4-23.8), p<0.001. There was no systematic relationship between RNFLT and visual acuity, cup-to-disc ratio, IOP, central corneal thickness, Humphrey mean deviation, and pattern standard deviation in either group. Conclusions: Compared to control eyes, polarimetry-determined RNFLT was lower in XFS eyes with normal IOP. Therefore, close monitoring of RNFLT may facilitate early identification of those XFS eyes that convert to exfoliative glaucoma. Keywords: Exfoliative glaucoma, Exfoliation syndrome, GDx-VCC, Retinal nerve fiber layer thick- ness, RNFLT, Scanning laser polarimetry Accepted: January 4, 2013 ORIGINAL ARTICLE DOI: 10.5301/ejo.5000247 INTRODUCTION Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is an age-related condition characterized by the gradual synthesis and accumulation of a fibrillar extracellular material in many ocular and ex- traocular tissues (1, 2). It is the most common identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma worldwide, comprising the majority of glaucoma cases in several countries (3). Exfo- liation syndrome and exfoliative glaucoma (XFG) currently affect 60-70 million people worldwide (1, 3). Eyes with XFS