THE IRIS FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY AS A METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF VASCULAR CHANGES AT VARIOUS STAGES OF PSEUDOEXFOLIATION SYNDROME

Purpose. To define vascular changes of the iris in cataract patients with various stages of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) using the iris fluorescein angiography (IFAG) and to confirm them morphologically.Material and methods. In the study 60 patients were divided into two groups: the group 1 consisted of 30 patients (30 eyes) with cataract and PEX stage I, the group 2 included 30 patients (30 eyes) with cataract and PEX stage II according to the classifications by A.P. Nesterov (2008) and H.M. Nizankowska (2001). The iris fluorescein angiography was performed for all patients, it was estimated the architectonic of the iris vessels, theirs permeability and time parameters. The morphological part was presented by 16 donor eyes which had not passed selection to transplantation.Results. Different degrees of microcirculation violations in the anterior segment of the eye were revealed in the group 1 and the group 2 using the iris fluorescein angiography. Morphologically destructions of epithelium and basal membrane of small and medium arteries were observed in donor eyes with PEX signs.Conclusion. The obtained data testify the existence of the arterial ischemia in the iris. Changes founded in the vascular bed of the iris correlate with the degree of clinical degenerative changes of the anterior segment of the eye. It should be mentioned that the progression of PEХ stage generated aggravating of changes in the vessels of the iris, like as the deterioration of microcirculation (according to the time parameters), the loss of crimp radial artery, the decrease in their number, the increased permeability and the appearance of neovascularization