outcomes of phacoemulsification in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation

purpose: to evaluate the incidence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (xfs) in patients with senile cataract who were scheduled for phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation (pe + iol) and to compare the outcomes of pe+iol between eyes with and without xfs. method: we retrospectively reviewed 2200 eyes with cataract undergoing pe + iol. all procedures were performed by a single surgeon (m.a.j) at a private clinic. patients with xfs were considered as the case group and age and sex matched patients without xfs were selected as controls. results: the incidence of xfs was 4.1% (90 eyes). mean age was 71.8±7.1 and 70.7±6.7 years in the case and control groups, respectively. xfs was unilateral in 60% of the cases. the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus (dm) and diabetic retinopathy (dr) was 31.1%, 6.7% and 0% in the xfs group vs 42.9%, 26.6% and 5.2% in the control group, respectively (p< 0.05). glaucoma was present in 25.6% of the xfs group and 6.5% of the control group (p<0.0001). vitreous loss occurred in one eye in each group; only one eye had zonular dehiscence in the xfs group. iris stretching was performed during surgery in 11.1% in the xfs group and 1.9% in the control group (p<0.0001). anterior capsule contraction occurred in 9.1% of the xfs group vs 0% in the control group (p= 0.007). conclusion: pe + iol in patients with xfs is as safe and effective as pure senile cataract. the incidence of dm and dr is significantly lower in xfs.