Pseudoexfoliation syndrome and secondary cataract

Poster Details

First Author: KristineStojanovic SERBIA

Co Author(s):    Marija Cvetanovic   Aleksandar Veselinovic   Dragan Veselinovic        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Although there is a high incidence of cataract in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, it is believed that these patients develop secondary cataract more often after phacoemulsification. An impairment of hemato-ocular barrier in patients with pseudoexfoliations may contribute to the formation of secondary cataract after lens extraction. Opacification of the posterior lens capsule after cataract surgery is a major medical and socioeconomic problem. Formation of secondary cataract may result from two mechanisms with many pathogenetic factors still poorly understood.

Setting:

: Ophthlmologic surgery ” Zone of vision-Veselinovic”

Methods:

The study enrolled 180 patients without pseudoexfoliation and 175 with pseudoexfoliations. They all underwent ultrasound cataract surgery in the period from 2010- 2012 at the Ophthalmology Clinic, Clinical Center Niš. The biomicroscopy was performed in all patients after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months and the posterior lens capsule opacity was analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for statistical analysis.

Results:

The mean age in patients with pseudoexfoliations was 76,3( SD 6,1), and in patients without PEX 74,7 years (Mean 5,3). The mean follow-up time was 22,9 months ( 16,1). Out of total of 355 patients, diabetes mellitus was registered in 72 patients (19,4%). The demographic distribution was very similar in eyes with and without PEX Secondary cataract was observed within 24 months in 35% (SD 7%) of all eyes, and was significantly more frequent in eyes with PEX (45 (11)%) than in eyes without PEX (24 (9)%, p<0.03). Eyes with diabetes mellitus (n=32) showed a significantly lower frequency of secondary cataract (11 (11)%) than eyes without diabetes mellitus (39 (8)%, p<0.01). The influences of sex, open angle glaucoma, type of cataract, surgeon, positioning of IOL, and phacoemulsification versus nuclear expression on secondary cataract did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions:

The higher frequency of secondary cataract could be considered as another potential complication of cataract surgery in eyes with PEX. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE