Purpose Up to date the pathogenetic aspects of exfoliation syndrome wh
ich are not well agreed upon even though the vascular damage plays a m
ajor role. Methods In order to evaluate the electrophysiological chang
es occurring in patients affected by exfoliation syndrome a case-contr
ol study with pattern electrofunctional examinations and oscillatory p
otentials from standard flash-ERG in 80 eyes affected by exfoliation s
yndrome with or without ocular hypertension was undertaken. Results So
me statistically significant PERG, P-PEV and OP abnormalities were fou
nd in eyes affected by exfoliation syndrome with or without ocular hyp
ertension (p < 0.001). There is no statistically significant differenc
e between affected and control eyes in monolateral syndrome (p > 0.05)
. The electrofunctional examination did nor mark any statistically sig
nificant difference between eyes with and without ocular hypertension
(p > 0.05). Conclusion The results stressed by pattern and oscillatory
potentials examinations may support the hypothesis of a primitive cha
nge of the optic nerve.