Nirmal Kumar Sasmal, Somnath Das, Akshay Agnihotri
BACKGROUND
Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome (PEX) is characterized by the deposition of a distinctive fibrillar material on the lens capsule, pupillary margin, iris, ciliary body and subconjunctival tissue and has also been identified in other parts of the body. PEX occurs worldwide and prevalence rates vary from 10 to 20% of the general population over the age of 60 years. Heightened awareness of this condition and its associated clinical signs are important in the detection and management of glaucoma, and preoperative determination of those patients at increased risk for surgical complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ocular profile of patients with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome in a tertiary eye care centre in West Bengal and to assess surgical complications which may arise from Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is institution based cross sectional study, conducted at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) OPD over a period of 1.5 years starting from February 2014 to July 2015. Fifty patients with the age between 20-80 years, attending RIO, OPD and diagnosed as having Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome were included in our study. Patients with other causes of secondary glaucoma and Fuchs Heterochromic Uveitis were excluded from our study.
RESULTS
In our study we found results similar to other studies with respect to age distribution of pseudo exfoliation patients. Higher incidence was found in age group of patients more than 55 years. The PEX patients in our study had10.0%, 4.0%, 3.0% and 2.0% of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG), primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), primary angle closure glaucoma(PACG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) respectively. 81% eyes were non-glaucomatous. The mean IOP (mean ± s.d.) of the patients was 17.48 ± 2.58 mmHg with range 14 - 23 mmHg and the median was 17 mmHg. Surgical complication was observed in 22.22% of the cases, but this was not further analysed since very few patients (9 patients) underwent surgical procedures.
CONCLUSION
Pseudoexfoliation syndrome presents challenges that need careful preoperative planning and intraoperative care to ensure safe surgery and a successful postoperative outcome. It is associated with higher IOP, incidence of cataract, and poor vision. Further population based longitudinal studies are warranted to assess the prevalence of PEX and associated risk factors.
