Nishat Sultana1, Priyam Gupta2
BACKGROUND
Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is the most common identifiable cause of open angle
glaucoma worldwide. Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma develops in 50 % of patients
with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The purpose of this study was to assess the
clinical profile, intraocular pressure (IOP), gonioscopic findings, disc changes and
need for medical or surgical line of management for the control of
pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.
METHODS
It was a prospective hospital based interventional study of 68 consecutive patients
diagnosed with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, who presented to the glaucoma clinic
at a tertiary care centre from Nov 2017 to Mar 2019.
RESULTS
68 patients diagnosed with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma were evaluated during the
study period from November 2017 to March 2019. Male predominance of 43 (63
%) was noticed. Mean age group of study population was 68 years with 44 (65
%) of patients in age group of 61 – 75 years. 55 cases had bilateral
pseudoexfoliation. 85 (69 %) eyes had a pressure of > 21 mm of Hg. 97 (79 %)
eyes had open angles, 4 (3 %) occludable angles, 22 (18 %) had closed angles.
4 (3 %) of eyes had cup disc ratio < 0.5, 49 (40 %) eyes had cup disc ratio of 0.5
- 0.7, 64 (52 %) had > 0.7 cupping. 38 (31 %) eyes were controlled on medical
therapy with topical antiglaucoma medications. In 14 (11 %), eyes were treated
with Nd: YAG PI (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet peripheral laser
iridotomy) with medical treatment, 59 (48 %) eyes were taken up for triple
procedure. 10 (8 %) eyes could not be controlled using medical therapy and had
to be taken for surgical treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma leads to irreversible visual loss if high IOP is not
treated leading to glaucomatous optic nerve damage and visual field loss. The
response to medical therapy is poor and needs surgical intervention.
