Pseudo-exfoliation syndrome in Chivi District: a disease with no geographical or racial boundaries.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the high prevalence of pseudo-exfoliation syndrome and to suggest its possible link with glaucoma in Black Zimbabweans.


METHODS
Cross sectional.


METHODS
Chivi District.


METHODS
A simple random sample of 148 blind people selected from a sampling frame of 886 blind people in Chivi district.


METHODS
Prevalence of pseudo-exfoliation syndrome.


RESULTS
Pseudo-exfoliation was found among people between 55 and 90 years old. Of the sampled population 7.4% had PXS. Out of 17 eyes, cataracts were found in 12, glaucoma in eight, and spontaneous dislocated lenses in two.


CONCLUSIONS
Pseudo-exfoliation is not rare in Chivi district and further research is needed to establish if it may be associated with glaucoma among Black Zimbabweans.
Masanganise
R
R
Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D015351:Vision Screening; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology