TO DETERMINE PREVALENCE OF PSEUDO EXFOLIATION AT A TERTIARY EYE CARE CENTRE: A hospital based study

Objective: To report the prevalence of pseudo exfoliation in association with Cataract and other ocular diseases at a tertiary eye care centre in Sindh, Pakistan. Methodology: This was a hospital based study at Liaquat University Eye hospital, Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan conducted from July, 2005 to November, 2006. A total of 1450 subjects of more than fifty years with senile cataract were registered who underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation. Visual acuity, refraction, Goldmann applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, slit lamp examination, and dilated pupil fundus examinations were performed. Pseudo exfoliation was diagnosed on slit lamp biomicroscopy by the presence of white dandruff-like material at pupillary margin, on the anterior lens capsule, and trabecular meshwork, in one or both eyes. Results: Out of 1450 patients, sixty five (4.48%) subjects was diagnosed having senile cataract with pseudo exfoliation. There was a significant increase in prevalence with age. Out of 65 cases, 15 cases (23.0%) were unilateral and 50 cases (76.9%) bilateral. Forty one eyes (63.0%) had raised intraocular pressure, in which four eyes (9.7%) had angle closure glaucoma, and 37 eyes (90.2%) had pseudo exfoliation (open angle) glaucoma. The prevalence of nuclear cataract was significantly higher (66.1%) in patients with pseudo exfoliation. Conclusion: It appears to be a common disorder in older individuals in the notified area. The association of pseudo exfoliation (PXF) with aging and cataract has public health implications.