Epidemiology of pseudoexfoliation in the island of Crete (Greece).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the pseudoexfoliation (PEX) prevalence in the island of Crete (Greece).


METHODS
Organized visits to various villages, to examine a predetermined number of people born and living in these villages, in collaboration with the local birth register offices.


RESULTS
PEX prevalence in Crete, in people aged 40 years and more, was found to be 16.1% (men: 21.3%, women: 12.6% - Prefecture of: Heraklion 11.5%, Chania 13.4%, Lasithi 16.9%, Rethymnon 27%). 28.8% of PEX-patients presented IOP > 21 mmHg. In unilateral PEX-patients, mean IOP of PEX-eyes was found to be 17.82 mmHg versus 15.6 mmHg in fellow eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
PEX prevalence was higher in men than in women and increases with age, as does bilaterality. A correlation between increased PEX prevalence and high altitude may exist. PEX is a risk factor for the development of IOP disturbances which seem to appear earlier in women.
Kozobolis
V P
VP
University of Crete, School of Health Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology, Vardinoyannion Eye Institute, Heraklion, Greece.
Papatzanaki
M
M
Vlachonikolis
I G
IG
Pallikaris
I G
IG
Tsambarlakis
I G
IG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors