Pseudoexfoliation in the Reykjavik Eye Study: prevalence and related ophthalmological variables

To examine the age and sex-specific prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) and its relationship with some ophthalmological variables.

We carried out a population-based study using a random sample taken from the national population census for citizens of Reykjavik, aged > or = 50 years. A total of 1045 individuals participated in all parts of the study. Pseudoexfoliation was established by slit-lamp examination with a maximally dilated pupil carried out by two experienced ophthalmologists, who were masked to one another's results except in cases of disagreement where they had to reach a consensus.

In all, 108 (10.7%) persons were found to have PEX in at least one eye. Prevalence increased from 2.5% in those aged 50-59 years to 40.6% in those aged > or = 80 years. Women were more frequently affected than men (12.3% versus 8.7%). This difference remained statistically significant after controlling for the effect of age (p < 0.001). Eyes with PEX were found to have higher intraocular pressure (IOP) than eyes without PEX (p < 0.05). However, PEX was not found to be related to central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, nuclear lens opacifications or optic disc morphology in a multivariate model.

Pseudoexfoliation is an age-related phenomenon commonly found in Iceland. It is more commonly found in women than in men and is associated with elevated IOP.