EXFOLIATION SYNDROME AND CATARACT-EXTRACTION

In a prospective study of 351 consecutive cataract operations performe d on Finnish patients, the prevalence of exfoliation syndrome was 31% (108 of 351 eyes), increasing from 0% (zero of 54 eyes) in patients yo unger than 60 years to 15% (12 of 78 eyes) in patients aged 60 to 69 y ears, 42% (57 of 137 eyes) in patients aged 70 to 79 years, and 48% (3 9 of 82 eyes) in those aged 80 years or more, than has previously been reported in general populations of the same age in Finland. Exfoliati on syndrome was more common in patients aged 70 years or more. Glaucom a was found in 41 of 108 eyes with exfoliation syndrome (38%). Exfolia tion syndrome increased the risk of intraoperative complications in ex tracapsular cataract extraction either directly (rupture of the zonule s) or through poor dilation of the pupil (rupture of the posterior len s capsule). The occurrence of vitreous loss was fourfold, and the need to use an anterior chamber intraocular lens instead of a posterior ch amber lens because of loss of capsular support was ten-fold in eyes wi th exfoliation as compared to those without exfoliation.