EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PSEUDOEXFOLIATION IN THE ISLAND OF CRETE (GREECE)

Purpose: To evaluate the pseudoexfoliation (PEX) prevalence in the isl and of Crete (Greece). Method: Organized visits to various villages, t o examine a predetermined number of people born and living in these vi llages, in collaboration with the local birth register offices. Result s: PEX prevalence in Crete, in people aged 40 years and more, was foun d to be 16.1% (men: 21.3%, women: 12.6% - Prefecture of: Heraklion 11. 5%, Chania 13.4%, Lasithi 16.9%, Rethymnon 27%). 28.8% of PEX-patients presented IOP > 21 mmHg. In unilateral PEX-patients, mean IOP of PEX- eyes was found to be 17.82 mmHg versus 15.6 mmHg in fellow eyes. Concl usion: PEX prevalence was higher in men than in women and increases wi th age, as does bilaterality. A correlation between increased PEX prev alence and high altitude may exist. PEX is a risk factor for the devel opment of IOP disturbances which seem to appear earlier in women.