[The pseudoexfoliative syndrome and its significance in cataract surgery]

To find out factors or combinations of factors leading to increased occurrence of complications in operation on cataract in patients with pseudoexfoliative syndrome.

Eye Clinic SPAM, Bratislava.

Prospective non-randomized study in 2916 patient of different age and sex, followed for 6 months after the operation on cataract. The standardized operation protocol was used. Complications were followed during and after the operation in view of released supporting apparatus, loss of vitreous body, uveal reaction and the occurrence of secondary cataract.

PEX occurred in 2.98% of the surgically treated patients of the group, most often in the age group of 75-84 years. The occurrence was independent of sex, but increased with age. There was not any relation between age and the type of cataract, incidence of complications, inflammatory reaction, and width of pupil, endo-telepathy and glaucoma. The incidence of per-operation complications in 13.7% is directly related to the syndrome, a narrow pupil, disorder of supporting (suspension) apparatus and worse visual acuity. From the 34 patients with PEX and increased inflammatory reaction, 22.9% suffered from secondary cataract after 6 months. A relationship between width of the pupil, time factor, hardness of cornea and the incidence of inflammatory reaction was demonstrated in 24.1%.

PEX itself is the source of most severe complications in operation on cataract. The patients should be in dispensary care and operated on in time by an experience surgeon.