Prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome in Ethiopian patients scheduled for cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) among Ethiopian patients with age-related cataract scheduled for surgery.


METHODS
In a prospective study, 229 consecutive eyes with age-related cataract scheduled for surgery were evaluated for the prevalence of PEX, type of cataract, intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma.


RESULTS
The mean age of the 229 patients was 62.1 +/- 10.5 years (range 47-91 years). The prevalence of PEX was 39.3% (90 of 229 eyes). Pseudoexfoliation syndrome was bilateral in 62.2% (56/90) of cases. The mean age of those with PEX (63.7 +/- 10.7 years) was significantly more than that of those without PEX (60.3 +/- 9.2 years) (p = 0.01). The prevalence of PEX significantly increased with age (p = 0.02). Patients with hypermature cataract had significantly more PEX (p < 0.001). Mean IOP was significantly higher in eyes with PEX (18.4 +/- 3.2 mmHg) than in those without PEX (15.8 +/- 3.6 mmHg) (p < 0.001). Significantly more eyes in the PEX group had IOP > 21 mmHg (p < 0.01) and established glaucoma (p < 0.05). An incidence of PEX was found in all major ethnic groups in Ethiopia. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of PEX between the different ethnic groups (p > 0.5).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PEX among Ethiopian patients with cataract is high and occurs at a relatively younger age when compared to previous reports from Europe. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome has been found to be significantly associated with hypermature cataract, higher mean IOP, IOP > 21 mmHg and glaucoma. Population-based studies are recommended to evaluate the prevalence of PEX in the general population and its association with cataract and glaucoma.
Teshome
Tiliksew
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. tiliksew@yahoo.com
Regassa
Kefyalew
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies