PSEUDOEXFOLIATION SYNDROME AND SECONDARY CATARACT

Aim/background-The pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome is frequently asso ciated with impairment of the blood-aqueous barrier. This study analys ed if this might stimulate secondary cataract following cataract extra ction. Methods-This historical cohort study included 197 eyes of 197 p atients (99 with and 98 without PEX) that underwent extracapsular cata ract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation (PMMA optic) between 1985 and 1991. Secondary cataract was defined as opacification of the axial posterior capsule and decrease of visual acuity by two o r more lines. Mean follow up was 23.8 months. For statistical analysis , the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox regression analysis wer e used. Results-Secondary cataract was observed within 24 months in 35 % (SD 7%) of all eyes, and was significantly more frequent in eyes wit h PEX (45 (11)%) than in eyes without PEX (24 (9)%, p<0.03). Eyes with diabetes mellitus (n=32) showed a significantly lower frequency of se condary cataract (11 (11)%) than eyes without diabetes mellitus (39 (8 )%, p<0.01). The influences of sex, open angle glaucoma, type of catar act, surgeon, positioning of IOL, and phacoemulsification versus nucle ar expression on secondary cataract did not reach statistical signific ance. Conclusion-The higher frequency of secondary cataract could be c onsidered as another potential complication of cataract surgery in eye s with PEX.