[Exfoliative syndrome and cataract surgery]

In the present prospective study, we compared the results of cataract surgery in two groups with or without exfoliation syndrome; 210 eyes were studied. The preoperative pupillary dilatation was smaller in the group with exfoliation syndrome (SE). We noticed a higher incidence of complications during planned extracapsular cataract extraction in patients with SE. A pupillary diameter smaller than 6 mm increases the incidence of capsulozonular rupture (22.5%) in these patients. After surgery, an inflammatory reaction and a transient increase in intraocular pressure were more frequent and the visual results were less favourable in the group with SE. The exfoliation syndrome is a major risk factor for cataract surgery. We recommend extracapsular extraction associated with a sector iridectomy when the pupillary diameter measures less than 6 mm.