[Cataract patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome among a population with high prevalence of PEX. Clinical findings and morphological and surgical characteristics].
BACKGROUND
Cataracts are the most frequent treatable cause of noninfectious blindness in Oman. Therefore, in 2002 a study was performed at our department of ophthalmology to evaluate cataract patients for pseudoexfoliation.


METHODS
In a prospective comparative cohort study, 370 age-related cataract eyes out of an evaluable population of 498 cataracts were evaluated by biomicroscopy, confocal corneal analysis, and electron microscopy and followed up after 6 months.


RESULTS
Of 370 age-related cataracts without glaucomas 171 had PEX. Preoperative manifestations were 89 subluxations, 15 vitreous prolapses, 6 ciliolenticular blocks, and 7 intravitreal dislocations. In 40 Omani cataract eyes without PEX the endothelial cell count was normal compared to the age-matched US norm and corneal thickness was less than Caucasians, but more than Afro-Americans.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports on a high incidence and frequent preoperative complications (68%) of the surgical cataract cases in an Arabic population. The development of serious complications and blindness is related to the duration of the disease and the lack of timely surgery.
Bialasiewicz
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AA
Department of Ophthalmology and School of Ophthalmic Technicians, Sultan Qaboos University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Muscat, Oman. alexander@squ.edu.om
Wali
U
U
Shenoy
R
R
Al-Saeidi
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology