EXFOLIATION SYNDROME AND PHACOEMULSIFICATION

Purpose: To evaluate intraoperative and postoperative complications of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in eyes w ith exfoliation syndrome. Setting: Eye Clinic, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. Methods: This prospective study evaluated 20 cons ecutive patients with exfoliation syndrome and 20 consecutive patients without the syndrome (control group) who had phacoemulsification and posterior chamber IOL implantation. One year later, the incidence of z onular tears, operating time, and fibrinoid reaction were studied in a nother group of 23 consecutive patients who had the same type of surge ry by the same surgeon. Results: Maximal pupil dilation was significan tly smaller (P<.0001) in the exfoliation than in the control group. In traoperatively, the incidence of zonular tears was the same in both gr oups (10%). In the 23 patients who had surgery 1 year later, no zonula r tears occurred. The incidence of postoperative complications was sim ilar in both groups. The exfoliation group had a significant decrease in intraocular pressure over preoperative levels at 1 week and 3 month s postoperatively. Conclusion: Phacoemulsification with posterior cham ber IOL implantation appears to be safe in eyes with exfoliation syndr ome.