Evaluation of refractive errors, axial eye length and some parameters of anterior chamber in schizophrenia patients

PURPOSE: Evaluation of refractive errors, axial eye length and some parameters of anterior chamber in schizophrenia patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In the study 70 patients (48 male, 22 female) who were diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM IV-TR criteria and received antipsychotic drugs at least 2 years were compared with control group of 60 (35 male, 25 female) patients who were similar in terms of age, gender, education and socioeconomic level. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed in both of the groups. Then an anterior segment examination was performed via Pentacam-Scheimflug (Oculus®,Pentacam, Germany) and the anterior-posterior length of the eye and lens thickness were measured using optic biometry (Lenstar 900 LS; Haag Streit Köniz, Switzerland). The psychiatric patient group received BPRS, SAPS and SANS assays. RESULTS: Both in the schizophrenics and the control groups, mild myopic shift was detected however there was not a statistically significant difference (p>0.005). The cornea volume (CV), anterior chamber volume (ACV) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) values were lower and there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.026, p=0.014, p=0.048 and p=0.005 respectively). The lens thickness was greater in schizophrenics and it was found statistically significant (p=0.006). A negative correlation between the scale for the assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS) and cylindirical values was detected and found statistically significant (p=0.008). The axial eye length, cylindirical value, pupil diameter, mean keratometric value and the anterior chamber angle revealed no statistical difference between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference was detected in terms of refraction disorders between schizophrenics and healthy control group. Some differences about anterior chamber parameters were found between schizophrenics and control group. Also, some differences about the anterior chamber parameters were detected due to the antipscychiotics that the schizophrenics use too. These results demonstrate that schizophrenics may exhibit clinical and structural differences. Keywords: schizophrenia, refractive errors, anterior chamber parameters, pentacam, optic biometry, antipsychotic drugs.