Pseudoexfoliation in the Reykjavik Eye Study: prevalence and related ophthalmological variables.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the age and sex-specific prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) and its relationship with some ophthalmological variables.


METHODS
We carried out a population-based study using a random sample taken from the national population census for citizens of Reykjavik, aged > or = 50 years. A total of 1045 individuals participated in all parts of the study. Pseudoexfoliation was established by slit-lamp examination with a maximally dilated pupil carried out by two experienced ophthalmologists, who were masked to one another's results except in cases of disagreement where they had to reach a consensus.


RESULTS
In all, 108 (10.7%) persons were found to have PEX in at least one eye. Prevalence increased from 2.5% in those aged 50-59 years to 40.6% in those aged > or = 80 years. Women were more frequently affected than men (12.3% versus 8.7%). This difference remained statistically significant after controlling for the effect of age (p < 0.001). Eyes with PEX were found to have higher intraocular pressure (IOP) than eyes without PEX (p < 0.05). However, PEX was not found to be related to central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, nuclear lens opacifications or optic disc morphology in a multivariate model.


CONCLUSIONS
Pseudoexfoliation is an age-related phenomenon commonly found in Iceland. It is more commonly found in women than in men and is associated with elevated IOP.
Arnarsson
Arsaell
A
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Damji
Karim F
KF
Sverrisson
Thordur
T
Sasaki
Hiroshi
H
Jonasson
Fridbert
F
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution