Prevalence of exfoliation syndrome in Estonia.

PURPOSE

To estimate the prevalence of exfoliation syndrome (XFS) in Estonia.

METHODS

A total of 766 residents, representing the demographics of Tartu, Estonia, were chosen by random sampling from the Estonian Population Database, and invited to participate in this study. Each patient underwent careful slit-lamp examination including applanation tonometry before and after pupil dilatation. Presence of XFS was confirmed after mydriasis as typical white-gray fluffy material on the anterior lens surface, and on the pupillary border as well on the corneal endothelium.

RESULTS

A total of 424 subjects, 277 female and 147 male, participated in this study. The median age was 70 years (70 years in women and 71 years in men). The overall prevalence of XFS among the study participants in 1 or both eyes was 25.5% (25.2% in men and 25.6% in women). Intraocular pressure measured before and after dilatation was significantly higher in the XFS group. Glaucoma was significantly more frequent in the XFS group than the non-XFS group; 35.7% and 11.3%, respectively. Fifty percent of all patients with glaucoma had exfoliative glaucoma. Cataract was detected in 57.0% of cases in the XFS group compared to 39.5% in the non-XFS group (p=0.002). We found similar prevalence of systemic diseases in both groups for both genders. There was no difference between the 2 groups in visual acuity.

CONCLUSIONS

In this population-based cross-section study, XFS was found to be a frequent finding in Estonia. Exfoliation syndrome is a risk factor for glaucoma and cataract formation.