Introduction

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is a systemic, age related microfibrillopathy characterized clinically by the production and deposition of extracellular granular material in tissues, most notably in the anterior chamber of the eye¹. The material is classically found on the lens capsule, pupillary border, the iris, non-pigmented ciliary epithelium, lens zonules, trabecular meshwork and corneal endothelial cells. The material has also been demonstrated along vascular endothelium, corneal epithelial basement membrane and corneal stroma. The ocular pathologies resulting from the deposition of this material include secondary open angle glaucoma, disturbances of the pre-corneal tear film, zonular weakness and dehiscence resulting in phacodonesis, angle closure glaucoma and lens dislocation, capsular rupture and vitreous release during cataract surgery, poor pupillary dilation, blood-aqueous barrier dysfunction and corneal endothelial decompensation². The prevalence of PEX over the age of 60 is roughly 10-20%, increasing to 40% over the age of 80, and is highly dependent on race and ethnicity^3,4. The rate of conversion from pseudoexfoliation syndrome to pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) is 5% in patients with PEX for 5 years, 15% at 10 years and a 15 year risk of up to 60%^5,6,7

Compared to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) is more severe. It is associated with higher mean intraocular pressures (IOP) with higher IOP fluctuations, higher frequency and severity of optic nerve damage, more rapid visual field loss and increased glaucoma medication resistance and a greater necessity for surgical intervention⁸.The purpose of current study was to document the ocular clinical profile of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

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21. Bartholomew RS (1980) Anterior chamber depth in eyes with pseudoexfoliation. Br J Ophthalmol 64: 322-323.

Snober Yousuf

Senior Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, JK, India